Ivan Obradovic on his injury

Partizan left-back Ivan Obradovic suffered a hand fracture recently and works on his recovery exercising in a gym at the moment.

“I had a fifth metacarpal bone fracture. It happened during the game against Spartak – I felt pain but I wasn`t aware how serious it is. It`s 12 or 13 days since it happened and I hoped I could be back on the pitch now, but it looks like I`m gonna start running on Monday” – says Ivan Obradovic.

Did you feel it was a fracture during the game?

“I can`t believe I had such a serious fracture considering I land on my hand so many times. It happened after one tackle, I fell down and didn`t land well, hand-wise. I could be that I had a minor hand injury in the past that created a bigger problem now”.

You have a special cast on your hand now.

“It`s a hand orthosis with new and more firm one expected to be done on Monday. My hand is not so swollen now so I need a new one. I watch out, do my therapy and follow everything medical department tells me”

What`s your training regime going to be once you recover?

“As far as I know, it takes four to six weeks for it to heel naturally. I have to be careful but I think I`ll be back on the training pitch next week, if scans allow me to. I`m not the first one to pick up such injury, some big stars were back on the pitch on three or four weeks. All I need is a good hand bandage to make sure I don`t hurt someone or myself. It will be alright, all I need is a bit of patience”.

You are working in a gym now.

“I have a schedule with a bit of cardio bike involved. I keep up as much as can, without weights. I do my leg, stomach and back exercise. Can`t wait to be back”.

PHOTO GALLERY: MIROSLAV TODOROVIC