bobbypetta
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picked up the injury before I got
called up to the squad. This time I
was ready to play and then, in the very
last training session before the match,
I pulled up. It was very upsetting.
"I'd struck a shot from distance
and scored but as soon as the ball
left my foot I felt my hammy again.
"It was unfortunate as everything
had been going well in training and
I was looking forward to playing.
"I was really enjoying it up
until that moment. It's such a great
experience to be representing your
country and also to be mixing with
so many top-class players.
"If I get the chance again, I'm
sure it will benefit my game because
I can only improve from working
with the best.
"Of course, the match and result
itself made it a tremendous night for
all the Dutch players and supporters.
"I went to see the game but,
although I loved watching us win, I
would have obviously enjoyed it even
more if I'd been out there myself."
Petta's day will surely come
however should he continue the
blistering early season form that
prompted coach Louis van Gaal to
consider him as a replacement for
Barcelona ace Marc Overmars.
Injury, it seems, is the only obstacle
standing in his path at the moment
and it's one that the player himself is
confident of surmounting.
However, having watched their star
winger attempt more than one rushed
comeback his breakdown in the CIS
Cup final springs instantly to mind -
Hoops fans might worry that this
latest injury setback has only arisen
as a result of over-eagerness on the
player's part. Not so, claims Petta.
"No, definitely not," he insisted.
"I'd felt fine before and during the
Ajax game and when I was asked if
I'd be alright to play against Hearts I
didn't think twice.
"The hamstring wasn't a problem
at that stage and, if I'd thought that
it was, there's no way that I would
have played.
"It's just a bit of bad luck. Everyone
in the Dutch camp was saying that
to me and telling me that I'd get
another chance they all felt very
sorry for me.
"When you make your debut they
IN Amsterdam two weeks ago,
Bobby Petta didn't only chip
in with the first of Celtic's
three goals - he helped deliver
a stunning blow that seriously
dented Dutch football.
However, within 24 hours of
humbling the Netherlands' most
famous club and sending the game
in his homeland reeling, he was
given the chance to help restore
some national pride when he
was named in the Dutch squad
to face England.
For Petta, here was a chance
to underline his
international credentials and, in
doing so, continue the rich vein
of form which had won him the
call in the first place.
However it was not to be as, not
for the first time, injury forced him to
postpone becoming a Dutch
debutante and left him contemplating
a period of three to four weeks out.
And for Petta, this call-off was even
more hurtful than the first, coming
as it did in the final training session
before the White Hart Lane kick-off.
He explained: "At least last season I
