After ploughing through his first week of preseason training with his first-to-fourth year teammates, unlucky Cat Daniel Menzel told SEN that he’s tracking ‘alright’ considering his long haul of four knee reconstructions

“I’m going alright at the moment but I’m still a good six months away from being full fit and where I want to be,” Menzel said on SEN radio.

Spending over three years in rehab, Menzel admits that his extended journey to recovery, which goes back to the 2011 Qualifying Final, hasn’t been easy.

“It’s the worst feeling because it’s not a four or six week injury, it’s a 40+ week injury,” Menzel explained.

“Mentally you go through some really bad times, but also you can get yourself up at times.

“That was the last time I did my ACL, first of all I thought I wasn’t getting stretchered off this time and then hit the door on the way in (and broke my hand).”

When he damaged his knee for the fourth time in three years, Menzel and the club were advised to go back to basics following unsuccessful LARS surgery, which is where the natural ligament is augmented with a synthetic ligament.

“I think the traditional method of surgery (is best),” Menzel said.

“From my experience I don’t think the club will go with LARS again, I wasn’t so lucky with it.

“Every single rehab has been different and I’m now able to help other people like Nathan Vardy who’s going through his first ACL rehab.”

In his short and interrupted career, the 23-year-old forward has played 21 games and kicked an impressive total of 32 goals.

In last week’s 2km time trial, Menzel completed the full course comfortably and finished in fourth place.