Paston's fitness paramount for All


Paston's fitness paramount for All

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Paston's fitness paramount for All

By FRED WOODCOCK in Auckland - The Dominion Post
Last updated 10:09 22/05/2010

If All Whites fans drew up a list of players they couldn't bare to see suffer injury before the World Cup, Ryan Nelsen would be at No 1 and Mark Paston would probably be at No 2.

Paston's fitness and general wellbeing is crucial to the All Whites given one of the two backup goalkeepers, Glen Moss, is suspended for the first two group matches.

Paston, himself, is coming off a five-month layoff after breaking his leg in December and Monday night's international against Australia in Melbourne marks a significant stepping stone on his way to regaining his pre-injury form.

He has only played one match since December, for an All Whites selection against the NZFC All Stars two weeks ago, so the four World Cup warm-up matches take on extra importance for the big Wellington Phoenix custodian.

His body is at "100 per cent", now it's about regaining the form which, for goalkeepers, can only come through playing.

"These games are very important for me," Paston said.

"At the moment, physically I feel like I'm almost there, and there are obviously a few more weeks [three] to go. Gametime is going to be crucial and there are plenty of training sessions, too, so I've still got plenty of time.

"I'm a little bit rusty at the moment but that's to be expected. I think the five months off has almost done me a favour, my ankles feel great - they tended to be a bit sore in the morning over the last year and that's gone away now.

"So it [injury layoff] has its pros and its cons, but my body does feel good."

Paston said he wasn't feeling any added pressure despite his fitness being so crucial to the All Whites' chances of competing at the World Cup, and there was certainly no thoughts of wrapping himself in cotton wool.

With the World Cup almost here, Paston was asked by a member of the press whether he ever looks back at what has become 'that save', his penalty save in the 1-0 win against Bahrain in Wellington on November 14 that booked New Zealand a ticket to South Africa.

"I broke my leg a week later so I've tried to look forward to help my rehab and recovery as a motivation, I've tried not to look back," he said. "Maybe in a few years' time I'll sit down and watch the game a few times with my little boy [Jack]."

The All Whites depart for Melbourne this afternoon and will have two training runs tomorrow before coach Ricki Herbert finalises the starting team for the MCG clash.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/football/3727802/Pastons-fitness-paramount-for-All-Whites

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