By ROY WARD
DANDENONG Thunder has re-signed star midfielder Mathew Theodore and hopes to have him fit for round one of the Victorian Premier League season.
The 23-year-old former Melbourne Victory player seriously injured his hip during the VPL finals and missed the Thunder’s VPL grand final win over Oakleigh Cannons.
Theodore joined the Thunder ahead of the 2011 season and has become a club favourite, winning the players’ player award last season.
Theodore told Thunder Media he looked forward to the season ahead and was slowly getting back to full training after surgery on his hip.
“I hope to be right for the start of the season,” he said. “I’m just taking things slowly at the moment and hope to get it right and have an uninterrupted season.”
Thunder coach Chris Taylor told Thunder Media he looked forward to seeing his star midfielder back on the pitch.
“Matty is a terrific young kid who had an outstanding season last year and we’ll be looking for more of the same this season when he recovers from his op,” Taylor said.
■ Former Springvale City junior and Socceroo midfielder Vince Grella retired from professional football last week.
The 33 year old played 46 times for the Socceroos including the 2006 and 2010 world cups, along with more than 200 games in the Italian Serie A competition and time in the English Premier League with Blackburn Rovers.
Grella had signed to play with A League club Melbourne Heart this season but tore his calf muscle against Western Sydney on January 26, playing out the match but deciding to retire. Grella told The Age he decided “then and there” to retire.
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