Kusini Yengi drops ‘difficult’ Portsmouth verdict after joining up with Australia
Kusini Yengi has discussed his recent “difficult time” with Portsmouth, as the striker returns from suspension to the Australia squad.
Yengi landed in Melbourne late on Monday having played 78 minutes for Pompey against Preston North End on Saturday [9 November], as Australia face Saudi Arabia and Bahrain this week in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
He has failed to score in the Championship so far this season, and had some time out of the Socceroos reckoning as a result of a three-match ban from a red card against the Bahrainis back in September.
Yengi is still full of confidence with the Socceroos media [12 November]: “It was a bit of a challenging period for me, of course. I came into the last camp having not played much football due to an injury at the start of the season. Then to come into that game and get a red card, and then go back to Portsmouth and get injured again, was a bit of a difficult time.
“I just put my head down and worked on my rehab and tried to get my body in the right place and then get back to playing games with Portsmouth and doing well, and then I knew if I was playing well, I would get selected.
“I’m in a much better place than I was coming into the previous camp. I’ve played a lot more games, and my body feels good and my mind is clear – I’m looking forward to these games and helping the team win points and qualification.”
Kusini Yengi backs himself at Portsmouth as Australia face huge games
Yengi has offered plenty of self-belief in adapting to the Championship, with many Portsmouth fans having recently been critical of his performances.
This is also taking into account the groin injury which prevented him sustaining much of a run of league matches.
However, the 25-year-old will have had that apprehension at the back of his mind that with the suspension culling him from the Aussie squad in October, he would have a fight on his hands to be called up by new national team coach Tony Popovic.
Popovic has made some changes from Graham Arnold’s final squad last month, including several potential debutants, but Yengi has his place back and has plenty to prove in these two upcoming fixtures.
Group C of the Asian division of World Cup qualifying sees Japan leading the pack with 10 points, as Australia sit on five points in second, very closely trailed on goal difference by this week’s opponents Saudi and Bahrain; Indonesia and China are on three points.
In other Portsmouth news, a potential blip from Matt Ritchie following some good displays.
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