The Vic Is Back

ANTONI Sarcevic is made of pretty stern stuff.

Having received an early setback in pre-season, Antoni played just 45 minutes of reserve team football before getting back into the Argyle starting 11 when the Pilgrims met Wycombe Wanderers. He then played three full 90 minute matches in nine days, and if selected on Saturday, he will make it four in 12 at Fratton Park against Portsmouth.

The big question is, how does he keep feeling so good? “I’m not going to lie, my body was telling me different after the Millwall game,” said Antoni. “I felt like I fit in straight away, I felt good in training. All the stuff I have done with the medical team had to be quite high-tempo to get back in. The gaffer had faith in me, and I’ve always had faith in my fitness. It’s just my match fitness, which is going to come. All I want to do is do what I can on the pitch to repay him. He has put a lot of faith in me, and others on the team.

“Injury and niggle wise I’m so much better than I was. The more games that keep coming the better. It’s not the games, it’s the travel. We travelled a long way, got back in the early of the morning, then we were back in. It feels like every time you wake up you are in the coach again.

“I’ve got to make sure I keep it up to get 40 games in the season, and look after myself off the field as well.”

Sarcevic signed a fresh two-year deal in the summer to keep him at Home Park until the summer of 2020, and it is clear that life at Argyle suits the Sarcevics.

He said: “We settled in nicely, my family and I, and signing the new deal speaks of what I think of the club. I love the club and I love the fans, I hope to stay for the rest of my contract and enjoy and good couple of years with them.”