Italy international Fabio Borini chats with safc.com following a return to training.
The striker also reflected on Tuesday’s open training session at Eppleton CW, while looking forward to a busy festive period.
Fabio, how much did you enjoy seeing all the supporters who turned out for open training?
FB: “It was nice to see all the faces and it’s always great to do things for the fans. It is just one day for us but it is something they will always remember, so it was a great to see them and give something back.”
You’re back in training now – a long time coming…
FB: “Too long, but that’s football. Thankfully I’m back now because I’ve been waiting for this moment – to be out there with my team-mates again – and it’s the perfect Christmas present for me and my family.”
Important for the team as well considering the volume of games we will play over the festive period?
FB: “We need everyone ready to play games and help team – Catts, Duncan and Paddy are all out for a long time and we will miss them – so I will try my best and hopefully help the team pick up some good results. We will all do the same and work hard as a team to get more wins.”
It’s always difficult for players to be out, but how much have your team-mates helped?
FB: “They’ve helped a lot but sometimes it’s difficult to be around them when you know you can’t play or help them on the pitch. That’s frustrating but they’ve kept me going; JD kept texting me over and over asking when I was back, and that helped me so now I’m back we’re both happy and he can stop texting!”
You keep yourself very fit – even during the off-season – so how much does that help you return and regain sharpness as soon as possible?
FB: “I’m naturally fit – I don’t know why, it must be in the family – and even when I can’t train properly I do any work I can to try and stay sharp, so that always makes it faster for me when I do come back and start to play with the team.”
The team are flying at the moment after picking up three wins from their last four Premier League games, hopefully a lot more in the next couple of months?
FB: “If we can get a few more wins before the end of December it would be the perfect Christmas for us. That’s what we will try and achieve as a team and if we do that we can start to express ourselves in the second half of the season, and look up rather than down.”
Some key games coming up in the next few weeks and none more so that Saturday’s trip to Swansea City?
FB: “If I’m ready it will be nice to be back in a stadium where I’m used to playing because I always get a great reception when I go back there. We have so many games coming up in the next few weeks and it will allow me to reach my maximum levels as soon as possible.”