‘Pit bull’ Flo is fit for Walsall
Florent Cuvelier says he feels as strong as a ‘pit bull’ after he overcame calf and hamstring problems to return to Walsall’s first-team.
The Belgian, who has seen his career blighted by injuries over the past few years, made his first appearance in two months on Saturday as the Saddlers secured a 1-0 win over Scunthorpe.
Cuvelier suffered a career-threatening knee injury while playing for Port Vale in 2014.
It is calf and hamstring problems that have troubled him this season. But Cuvelier says those issues are now in the past with the midfielder targeting an extended run of games.
“I’m not thinking about injuries any more – they are in the past,” he said.
“I think everyone could see against Scunthorpe I was on the pitch and running like a pit bull. That is how I felt and that is the image I wanted to show. I think I did that.
“I have had a couple of issues, I must be like an old dinosaur.
“It’s always my calf or hamstring. But now I’m looking forward to a strong second half of the season.”
Cuvelier was full of praise for boss Jon Whitney as well as physio Marc Czuczman – who is known as Rev – for the work they have done with him since his latest injury set-back.
“I’ve done lots of hard work behind the scenes with the gaffer and Rev,” the former Stoke man continued.
“They have really helped and I felt really good against Scunthorpe.
“It’s been difficult but I am a fighter and every time I play I will give everything I have got.
“And on Saturday I left the pitch with nothing left in the tank. All the players did.”
With his injury history, Cuvelier conceded he may not be able to play every game over the busy festive period. But he said he is happy for his fitness levels to be assessed by Whitney.
“As a footballer, the more minutes you play – the sharper and better you will be,” he added. “As a player you never want to miss a game.
“But the manager here knows what he is doing. I’m in good hands.
“So when I play I just want to give him that trust back.”
Cuvelier was also full of praise for Ama Bakayoko who worked tirelessly as a lone striker against the Iron.
"Ama was brilliant for us," he added. "The gaffer asked him to stretch the line and stop their defenders from hitting us with big diagonal balls.
"I thought his work rate was outstanding so fair play to the big man."
