Curtis Good ready to start for Melbourne City after five-year injury hiatus

Riley McGree got things started in the second minute before Luke Brattan and Lachlan Wales added two more for home ground domination over the Jets.

Having returned to the A-League after an ill-fated European adventure, Curtis Good says he’s now ready to make a first league start in almost five years.

Good made a late outing for Melbourne City on Sunday in their 3-0 win over Newcastle Jets.

It was an innocuous three-minute substitute appearance, lost in the result and the ongoing Bruno Fornaroli saga.

But for Good, it was momentous; his first taste of league football since running out at Edinburgh’s Easter Road in February 2014 for Dundee United.

“I was most emotional when I arrived at the stadium as it’s my first time being involved with this squad,” he told AAP.

“Just being in a change room again. It brought back a lot of memories.”

Good began his career at Melbourne Heart, impressing enough to earn a six-year deal with English heavyweights Newcastle United.

Two years and two loan deals into his contract, he earned a first Socceroos cap — but on debut for Australia he suffered a hip injury that would derail his promising career.

The rest is unfortunate history for the 25-year-old, as he lurched from surgery to surgery in an attempt to find fitness.

He said a string of surgeries hit not just his physical condition but his mental health.

“After the third one I really started questioning why I was there. Was it worth it?” he said.

“You go into the club not to play football but to watch the team train.

“I got a lot of help from the club and I needed it. It’s not a great experience and I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone.”

Curtis Good has endured a torrid time with injury over the past five years.

Good said the combination of his injury and a new manager — Champions League winner Rafael Benitez — put the writing on the wall.

He was given a chance in an FA Cup match in January last year, but an experimental side lost 3-0 to Oxford United.

Spending time in the reserves as his contract ticked down, Good found risk-averse European clubs unwilling to take a chance on him, and so he returned home.

Under Joyce, Good was been placed on a strict conditioning program that has paid dividends.

“I got to the stage where I felt like it was just important to get back playing football again,” he said.

“I knew this was going to be a perfect environment and this is where I knew I could get back.

“Now I’m ready.

“It is a relief to come in and purely just train, play football and not having other worries.

“I’m coming in, working every day and waiting for an opportunity.”

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