After missing four months with a serious knee infection, Canberra defender George Timotheou has fought his way back into the Young Socceroos.
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The 17-year-old centre half will join Australia's leading under-20s talent in Melbourne next week for a national training camp.
Timotheou performed strongly during his first season with Sydney FC in the National Youth League, which led him to joining NSW Premier League club Blacktown City to maintain his fitness during the off-season.
But an infection from a cut suffered while playing for Blacktown in a pre-season game forced Timotheou to be sidelined for four months.
He returned to the pitch in June and has played a full 90-minute shift for Blacktown's under-20s team in each of their past four games.
"It's good to be back full training and playing again and knowing coaches have confidence in me after having four months off," Timotheou said.
"I got a cut, I didn't know about it and drove back to Canberra that night and woke up with a really inflamed knee. I went to a physio and I was admitted to hospital. I had about three surgeries in that one week and was on the antibiotics for a while after that."
Timotheou started his rehabilitation in Canberra, getting his strength and fitness back in the gym and the pool.
He then progressed to training with Capital Football's National Training Centre (NTC) squad and Belconnen United, who he played for last year in the ACT National Premier League.
"I lost a lot of bone density, so that's why I took such a long time to get back on the park because I had to be wary of not coming back too early and injuring my knee again," he said.
"It was pretty tough playing for Blacktown. My first game I played 15 minutes and I was exhausted. The last month I've played four 90-minute games and I'm getting fitter each week."
The Young Socceroos are preparing for the under-20 AFC qualifiers in Laos in October, with the ultimate goal to book their spot at the 2017 under-20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the FFA Centre of Excellence defeated Woden Weston FC 1-0 at the AIS in the ACT National Premier League on Saturday.
ACT NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE
Sunday: Canberra FC v Gungahlin United at Deakin Stadium. Tigers FC v Tuggeranong United at Nijong Oval, Cooma. Monaro Panthers v Canberra Olympic at Riverside Stadium. All games 3pm.
