AFTER a frustrating four months on the sideline, Wes Hoolahan is desperate to breathe life into his and the Newcastle Jets' campaign.
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Hoolahan has resumed full training after a recovering from ankle syndesmosis he suffered in the Jets' 1-0 loss to Adelaide United in the FFA Cup quarter-final in mid September.
Whether he returns against Western United at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday or is held back until the F3 derby against the Mariners at home the following week will be determined after training on Friday.
Either way the man known as the Irish Messi is ready to push the go button.
"The ankle feels good and it has reacted well to being on the pitch during the past couple of weeks," he said. "I will see how I pull up after Friday. I don't know about starting, maybe come off the bench or just be in the squad. We will see how training goes in the next two days. Hopefully there is more improvement in me. Then it is up to [coach] Craig Deans.
"Five months is a long time being out. It is about getting back into it, getting touches of the ball ... short, sharp stuff. I have only been back training two weeks in total on the pitch. It's short, but I'm just dying to get back out there. The only way I can get back out there is to get minutes on the pitch."
The Irish attacker's presence could be the fillip the Jets need after an unlucky 2-1 loss to Wellington stretched their winless run to eight matches and left them four points adrift at the bottom of the A-League table.
"We have been playing really well but just haven't been clinical enough in the top half of the pitch," Hoolahan said. "Hopefully I can settle into the team and help as much as I can. Give the experience that I have and hopefully we can get a few wins and get back up in the top half of the table. I always feel like we are in the game and have a chance of winning. We have been playing really well but it's just not happening for us. We play really well at times and then sometimes we switch off and mentally it kills us."
Hoolahan captained Norwich City in the English Premier League two years ago and only called full-time on a 43-cap international career in 2018. His move to the Jets was not motivated by money but rather a desire to play football in another country and experience a different lifestyle.
"To come all the way out here and get the longest injury in my career is obviously difficult," he said. "The first couple of months you go into training knowing you are not going to be doing much. Mentally it is hard to see the finish line.
"You have to get up and get on with it. The last few weeks have been great because I have been joining in sessions with the boys. You get the buzz back. I'm looking forward now to the next three or four months."
The extended lay-off did open the door for Hoolahan to spend quality time with wife Emma and children, Noah and Lottie, and enjoy Newcastle's beach lifestyle.
"There are down sides to being injured but you get to spend a lot of time with your family and do a lot more things," he said. "In season, you are training most of the time and travelling a lot and away from your family. The wife is sick of me now. I can't sit still for a second. I need to be doing something. Going for a swim, playing some golf, especially in this weather, there is no point staying inside. I try to get out and do as many activities as I can.
"My golf handicap is slowly going down since I have been injured. Steve Ugarkovic plays quite a bit, so does Gus Thurgate and Bobby Burns. There are about 10 who play ... Bobby Burns is probably the worst player."
Hoolahan is off contract at the end of the season but is not looking that far ahead.
"I want to concentrate on the next couple of months, get my head down and play some games," he said. "That is all I am thinking about. I came out here to play for the Jets, play in the A-League and I was disappointed to get the injury. All I want to do is play. We have 12 games to go and hopefully I play as many games as possible and see how it goes from there."
