Thiago Fernández buzzing after injury comeback: 'I'm 100% ready now'
Real Oviedo's Argentine loanee from Villarreal opens up about his year on the sidelines, his immediate impact, and why he's ready to help turn things around.
After a year in the treatment room, Thiago Fernández is back with a bang at Real Oviedo and couldn’t be happier about it.
From injury hell to instant impact
It’s not often a player makes such an immediate difference after being sidelined for so long, but Fernández has hit the ground running since joining Real Oviedo on loan from Villarreal. The Argentine attacker has quickly become a breath of fresh air for a side that’s been struggling to find form this season.
“I came to Oviedo to get minutes,” Fernández explained, revealing that when he heard of the club’s interest, he didn’t think twice about making the move despite their tricky league position. Talk about jumping in at the deep end!
Physical condition no longer a concern
After spending a year on the treatment table, you might expect some rustiness, but Fernández insists he’s ready to go whenever called upon:
- Completed a thorough rehabilitation program
- Now back to full fitness
- Looking to build match rhythm and minutes
“I had a year stopped, but now I’m at one hundred percent whenever the manager decides,” the Argentine confirmed, putting to bed any concerns about his physical condition.
Finding his feet in Asturias
What’s struck Fernández most since arriving at the Carlos Tartiere has been the dressing room atmosphere. Despite results not going their way, he describes finding “an extraordinary group, very united” that he believes deserved more points than they’d accumulated.
The recent victory has been a weight off everyone’s shoulders, with Fernández hoping it represents a turning point in their campaign.
Versatile attacking threat
As for his playing style, the Argentine describes himself as a creative player who’s spent most of his career as a number 10, though he now feels more comfortable operating from the left wing. Proper Adam and Eve, that – he’s clearly not the type to get stuck in his ways.
The emotion of making his comeback was clear to see, with Fernández admitting he “released a lot of tension accumulated from a complicated year” after the final whistle, immediately looking for his family in the stands who supported him throughout his recovery.