Missing the first two rounds of the campaign has made Brisbane Roar’s Henrique even more determined to make an impact this Hyundai A-League season.
Missing the first two rounds of the campaign has made Brisbane Roar-s Henrique even more determined to make an impact this Hyundai A-League season.
An otherwise uninterrupted pre-season came to a halt during an August away trip to regional New South Wales when the Brazilian winger succumbed to a troublesome heel injury.
Henrique had to wait until the round three Hyundai A-League match against Wellington Phoenix two weeks ago for his return to action and spent half an hour on the pitch in the club-s 1-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday.
“It-s a very nice feeling,” he said.
“I trained four months in the pre-season and now after my injury, I-m glad to be back in full training and playing game again.
“I-ve worked especially hard over the past two or three weeks to regain my fitness levels and now the only way to get more fit is to play more games.”
Henrique was used in a range of positions during the pre-season while Head Coach Rado Vidosic developed a slight alteration to the team-s game plan.
Now, during the competitive campaign, the 27-year-old is content playing anywhere on the park.
“I-ve been playing a lot of different positions, right winger, left winger, midfield area and I am happy to play where ever the coach sees me fit best,” he said.
“I don-t have a favourite position but I do think I play well on the left hand side.”
With eight-month-old daughter Bruna at home, Henrique-s life outside of football also throws up some unexpected surprises but he wouldn-t have it any other way.
Well known for his goal celebrations, which have included a message to loved ones through the Fox Sports camera, proclaiming his love for Brisbane with a heart-shaped hand gesture and a ball under the jersey while his wife was pregnant, Henrique has something special planned for the next time he finds the back of the net.
“She-s beautiful, growing up so quickly – everything I do is for her,” he said.
“She hasn-t been to the football yet, I think the stadium will be too noisy for her at the moment!
“I do have something up my sleeve but you-ll have to wait and see.”
Brisbane Roar host Adelaide United on Sunday, 4 November at Suncorp Stadium. Kick off is at 4pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.
