Young Socceroos star Skapetis eyes return at Olympics

Nearly 12 months after injuring his knee while playing for the Young Socceroos, fledgling Stoke City Under-21 striker Peter Skapetis has returned from the wilderness and is targeting next year’s Rio Olympic Games and a new contract with the Potters.

Skapetis is aiming to make the Olyroos squad at the Rio Olympics. Source: Getty Images

Two operations and a heap of frustration ensued for Skapetis after an ACL rupture sustained in the dying minutes during the Under-20 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan last October.

But the free-scoring Skapetis is now oozing with optimism as he looks to reactivate a career bursting with promise.

A 30-minute cameo in a 5-1 win for Stoke's Under-21 side against Wrexham on Tuesday night (AEST) is just the first step back for the pacy forward, who spent two years at Queens Park Rangers before reuniting with former Hoops manager Mark Hughes.

“With any long-term injury it's very mentally difficult at times but you put in the work and get the rewards,” said Skapetis, who has netted 11 goals in eight appearances for Australia’s Under-20 and Under-23 sides.

“It’s not easy to come back from something like this, but you do what has to be done every day and give yourself the best possibility to succeed and that’s what I have focused on.

“The club said I will have time to prove myself, which has kept me positive and now all the work I have done can be transferred onto the pitch.

"Hopefully, it's an exciting couple of months ahead. There's the possibility of Premier League football, everything is worth it, and that’s where my head is at.”

While Skapetis’s contract expires in December, the 20 year-old is confident he can do enough to win an extension at Stoke.

“The club will see how I come back over the next couple of months and the reassess things," Skapetis said.

“My goal and mentality was to come back stronger in every area when I did my knee, and hopefully I can keep improving.”

Skapetis recalls the moment all too well when his world was turned upside-down after injuring his knee against Uzbekistan.

"In the last couple of minutes I got the ball at halfway, ran 15 yards and went to turn back in but my foot wouldn’t move out of the ground. I got a nudge from defender and completely ruptured my ACL" he said.

“It all got a bit messy. I had to have a second operation in May to tidy everything up and deal with some scar tissue. Injury makes you see things differently and not take so much for granted.”

With the Olyroos preparing for January's bid to reach the Olympics, Skapetis's immediate goal is to break into the Aurelio Vidmar’s team after being boosted by a visit from Socceroos goalkeeping coach Tony Frankin.

“Franklin talked about the qualifiers coming up and it’s something I am aiming for ...  beyond that the Socceroos is also goal in the near future,” Skapetis said.

“I have scored quite a few goals over the last 18 months for the Under-20s and a couple for the Olyroos also.”

Skapetis believes he is at the right place at Stoke to continue to develop under the eye of Hughes and Under-21s manager Glyn Hodges, who also mentored him at QPR.

“Its great being at an academy like Stoke … everything is there for you to succeed. It’s just how you apply yourself. You get the best of everything and ultimately my goal is to break into the first team," he said.

“But first team experience elsewhere is also a possibility. You see that all the time with loan moves. But first and foremost I need to get fit, get playing in the Under 21s again and see where it goes from there.”