Russia defender Viktor Vasin is dreaming of a return to the national team after a 16-month injury layoff, he told RIA Novosti on Saturday.
Vasin, 23, damaged a knee ligament in January 2011, two months after making his Russia debut, and suffered repeated relapses before finally returning to competitive action for CSKA Moscow last weekend.
“Now dream No .1 is to get into the national team,” Vasin said.
More than a year on the sidelines had made him psychologically stronger than when he made his first, and so far only appearance for Russia in a 2-0 friendly defeat to Belgium in Voronezh.
“I was worried and everything was somehow unexpected for me. But looking back now, I can say that I wasn’t especially well prepared emotionally.”
“Now I already feel the difference between me then and now. The progress happened psychologically.”
St. Petersburg-born Vasin joined CSKA Moscow from Russian Premier League side Spartak Nalchik days before the injury struck.
He returned to action against Spartak Moscow on April 28, as a half-time substitute in a 2-1 derby win, before playing the whole game Wednesday as CSKA beat Lokomotiv Moscow 3-0 to increase their hopes of Champions League qualification.
CSKA’s next game is at home to Dan Petrescu’s FC Kuban on Sunday.
