Viktor Johansson insists he feels better and hungrier than ever as he caps a long-awaited return from injury with a new long-term contract.
Stoke City’s number one, who has been working his way back to full fitness during the past four months following shoulder surgery, continued his phased return in a Professional Development League play-off as City’s under-21s were edged out by Peterborough at the bet365 Stadium.
But, with one more Stoke game to go this season and a World Cup on the horizon with Sweden, first of all, he is ecstatic to get back out and play.
He said: “It was an unbelievable feeling just to get back out there and hear the whistle. Unfortunate with the result, but it felt good being out there and just playing a game again.
“I feel better than ever. I feel stronger. Test results show I’m stronger than even before my surgery, which is always a good sign.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a problem with me. Once the surgeon said it’s healed, I crack on. I was ready to go four, six weeks ago so it’s not about being scared.
“I’m never going to be nervous, it’s not going to stop me from doing what I’m doing, it’s healed, everything’s good and everyone’s happy with it.
“I’m really happy to be available for selection, I think that was the main thing after the surgery, with Stoke and then a potential World Cup as well, so I’m really happy I got myself in a position where I’m feeling good and just really loving football.
“I feel hungrier than ever. It’s been so hard but at the same time I’ve just missed it so much. I was just so happy to be back out there because sometimes you take a bit for granted to be able to play and train whereas when you don’t, it’s a tough mental challenge.
“I can’t speak highly enough about the club, how they dealt with my situation, nothing was ever a problem.”
Johansson has put his signature where his mouth is in terms of the club and has signed a new four-year deal ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Bristol City (12.30pm) and the end of term.
There has been a time for reflection since he last ran out for the first team.
He said: “How much I really love football. I think you always have an idea roughly about you love what you do but it just puts everything into another bracket.
“I’m 27 and you learn stuff every day, but I think that’s the biggest learning I can take with me.
“Everything was hard in different ways. At the beginning it went so well, it just went up and up and up and then it sort of flattens out so it takes longer to progress quicker so that middle phase was probably the toughest bit where I felt like, if someone asked me to play, I could play but it was still sore.”
He added: “I’m so happy here. I love being here so that’s where I am at the moment.”
Stoke have slipped down the table during his absence and can now only finish as high as 14th if they win and other results go in their favour. It is a long cry from being in the top two going into November and top six going into December.
Johansson said: “Everyone’s frustrated how the season ended, or not ended but how it went after Christmas time.
“We showed that we can compete up there. I think we were like 40-plus days in the top two or play-off spots, which is a good sign. We just need to sustain that throughout the season.
“It’s been tough, we’re not going to deny it, but that’s when we grow stronger as a team. It’s the same with family, the more you go through, the stronger you get.
“We started off so well and then had a drop off, so next season the aim is to maintain it, but everyone’s got the experience now, how can we learn from it, how can we get stronger, so it’s a massive learning curve.”
He vowed: “As a professional, you always want to win games. Regardless of where we are in the league, I always want to win. I don’t care if it’s for nothing or if it means the world, it doesn’t change my output and doesn’t change how I think about the game.”
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