Mejia doubling down after double blow

• Carlos Mejia harmed knee before subordinate contest though still finished tip scorer
• Suffered a relapse brazen of India 2017, usually to strike dual goals so far
• “It’s been unequivocally tough, though those practice will assistance me”, he says

Lightning never strikes twice, or so a aged observant goes. But only try revelation that to Honduras brazen Carlos Mejia, who recently suffered dual apart knee injuries in a space of a few months.

The first, a meniscal lesion, looked unfailing to keep him out of a CONCACAF subordinate contest for a FIFA U-17 World Cup. “I had to bear an operation,” Mejia explained to FIFA.com.

“It was unequivocally formidable because, when you’re young, we never suppose this kind of thing function to you. In a end, we got a lot of support, put my whole heart into my work and was means to recover.”

That is his version, anyway. Honduras manager Jose Valladares has a opposite recollection. “He was fundamentally harmed when he played that pre-World Cup contest in Panama,” insisted El Profe (the Teacher), uninformed from his side’s feat opposite New Caledonia in their second Group E outing. “We attempted to keep him operational via a tournament. He was critical for us, and his grant was wilful in bringing us to a World Cup.”

Stronger each day
File that divided in a drawer noted ‘understatements’. Practically personification on one leg, Mejia done a harmful impact, scoring 7 goals in 5 games to book Los Catrachos their sheet to India. That was behind in May, and Honduras had 4 months to prepared for a finals. As for Mejia, feeling pointy once again, he incited out for his bar side Vida in a internal contest decider opposite CD Olimpia. “Unfortunately, he suffered a relapse,” pronounced Valladares. “Perhaps he didn’t take it easy adequate to redeem from his damage and a contest in Panama. He had to bear another operation hardly a month after returning to a pitch.”  

Honduras were unfortunate to take their star brazen to India, though Mejia himself believed his possibility had gone. “It was even some-more formidable given we suspicion I’d recovered ideally and we felt good,” he said. “I had to start all over again. we was unequivocally down, though my mom was a outrageous assistance to me mentally, ensuring we felt stronger each day.” 

The internal press carried photos of Mejia hobbling around on crutches – not a many calming steer with only a few weeks to go before a categorical event. Nevertheless, Valladares was fervent to have Mejia in his squad. “El Profe has always kept faith in me,” explained a striker. “He always believed we had my place in a team, even when we was injured. The physio has also been a large help, and he did all to make certain I’d be prepared for a tournament. we even stayed during his residence for a while so that we could redeem as best as possible.”   

Lightning in his boots
Those efforts have paid off in spades. Mejia returned to a overlay during Honduras’s preparations in Spain, their final pier of call before India, and he has started both their World Cup matches so distant – a 6-1 opening detriment to Japan before a 5-0 better of New Caledonia. “For a initial few minutes, we was a small fearful when we started creation runs,” he admitted. “As time went by, we stopped meditative about a risk of injury. My team-mates have faith in me and they give me confidence.”

High on confidence, Mejia is not only lethal in front of thought though seems to have lightning in his boots, as he valid with his double opposite New Caledonia during a Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. And given he has schooled a tough approach that lightning can strike twice, Mejia will be penetrating for a repeat opening during a same venue this weekend, when Honduras strive for a mark in a final 16 opposite France. “It hasn’t been easy after those injuries,” he added, “but in a finish those practice will assistance me.”

A life in football
– Carlos Mejia is a son of former veteran footballer Ignacio Mejia
– His idols: Lionel Messi, Neymar and Philippe Coutinho
– Last year, he underwent trials with Manchester City and Bolton
“I don’t know what happened exactly, though we had to lapse to Honduras. It wasn’t easy given I’d got myself used to a thought of staying. we wish I’ll be means to go behind to Europe one day, and when that day comes I’ll be prepared and mentally prepared to stay and succeed.”

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/news/y=2017/m=10/news=mejia-doubling-down-after-double-blow-2913873.html