Kevin Strootman thanks Roma for supporting him, but it's “difficult to say” when he’ll return from knee surgery.
The Dutch international had a third knee operation earlier this season, having missed almost all of last season after developing Cyclops Syndrome following his first operation.
“I feel really supported by the club,” Strootman said in an interview on his Facebook page.
Kevin Strootman thanks Roma for supporting him, but it's “difficult to say” when he’ll return from knee surgery.
The Dutch international had a third knee operation earlier this season, having missed almost all of last season after developing Cyclops Syndrome following his first operation.
“I feel really supported by the club,” Strootman said in an interview on his Facebook page.
“From the first surgery until now they’ve always supported me: the directors, the coaches, my teammates… everybody who’s involved at the club.
“Also the supporters, I get a lot of support from them, especially in the tough periods like when I had to have another surgery.
“The support that I get from everybody feels so good, and it gives me a lot of confidence and power to come back.
“If you get the support from the medical team it gives you a lot of power, and they have the knowledge to get you back playing, so that’s also important.
“When will I be back? We’re now three months after the surgery and up to now it’s gone really well. I have to see where we stand after four months and then I can say when I can start to train with the team.
“For now, it’s really difficult to say.
“I feel good, I feel fit and I feel confident. I think that’s important, I didn’t feel that way before the surgery. I want to thank the fans. I get a lot of support.”
Strootman also went into the history of his knee troubles, and discussed the help he’s had from a Giallorosso youngster.
“I think it’s important to start at the very beginning. It happened during the international match against France, I had issues with my right knee and had to be substituted.
“I didn’t want to take any more risks than necessary, and left the pitch. Three days later, we had a match against Napoli. I played, it was going OK but an unfortunate challenge caused me to lose my balance and I tore my cruciate ligaments.
“I think it took me about eight months to get back on the pitch, I played in an away game against Fiorentina. I got tackled and caught my right knee again.
“I left the pitch without too much pain, but the knee felt unstable. An MRI scan showed damage, and I needed surgery to see what was going on.
“During the surgery they discovered that the problems with my cartilage were more serious than expected. It was a big shock.
“We gathered all our research, and went all over Europe – here in Italy, Holland – in search of an answer. The conclusion was yet another operation on my ligaments.
“That I was so close to joining my team again and had it all taken away from me was a big step back, and a difficult challenge, mentally.
“We’re now three months down the line, and I’m training. I have to say it’s feeling a lot better. I hope the last steps in my rehabilitation will go the same and after that I can join the team quickly.
“That’s what a footballer wants, and what I’ve missed most in the last two years. Reconnecting with the team is something I’m working on, and everyone is being very helpful and supportive.
“I’ve spent my days with another player who has also had the same surgery as me, the same injury, Elio Capradossi.
“We work together, we train together, we compete a little bit during the day. It makes the day more fun while we work.”