Exclusive interview: Sasa Kalajdzic on injury return and Wolves promises
It is not often you hear a footballer attempt to lower expectations, but Sasa Kalajdzic has good reason to.
The 6ft 7ins striker is a unique player. His frame and height make him stand out and on the pitch he could be a dangerous weapon for any side.
But on his return to football in a Wolves shirt, on the back of a devastating injury, Kalajdzic is unable to make any promises.
Signed for £15.4million almost exactly a year ago, Kalajdzic started for Wolves three days later on his debut against Southampton and within 45 minutes had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.
After a whole season of rehabilitation and a summer where he got back playing in pre-season, the Austrian international came off the bench against Manchester United for his return to competitive action – and should have won a last minute penalty for Wolves.
In a brutally honest interview with the Express & Star, Kalajdzic opened up on the chances of him scoring goals regularly this season for a team desperate for some inspiration up front.
“Of course you want to have an impact, but you can’t expect that from me,” Kalajdzic said.
“I wish I could promise Wolves fans that I will come in and straight away score a lot of goals, but I can’t.
“I’m working for it. I’m working so I can do that, but we will see. Anything can happen.
“I’m trying to reach my maximum and not make pressure for myself.
“In the end it’s not important if I score lots of goals, it’s important if the team wins and if I can contribute to that, then that’s massive.
“Every manager would like to win every game and have a striker that scores lots of goals, but if your team wins that’s the most important thing.
“I’m not the type of player or guy that makes big announcements, I’m just trying to work hard and be focused to go to my maximum every week.
“The team and staff is doing a very good job, because they’re not throwing me into the cold water, they’re trying to increase the load.
“I have a good feeling and I think every week I will be better and better again.
“I know from my first injury there are ups and downs. There will be a down again, because this is how it is with injuries and normal football careers.
“You can’t always keep going up and up, maybe sometimes you’ll fall down and then you can go two steps up again. It’s a little rollercoaster.
“I’m not making pressure for myself, but I want to reach the maximum.”
