Sergiño Dest made his long-awaited return from a severe knee damage in PSV Eindhoven‘s 2-1 win over Heerenveen within the Dutch Eredivisie on Saturday.
The United States males’s nationwide workforce defender got here on instead within the 67th minute for his first look in virtually 11 months, since struggling an ACL tear in April final yr.
Dest changed Richard Ledezma and had a heat embrace along with his fellow U.S. worldwide earlier than coming into the match on the Philips Stadion.
“I’m immensely completely satisfied to be again,” Dest was quoted as saying by PSV’s web site. “The supporters and the gamers took excellent care of me and I am very grateful for that.”
He added: “Earlier than the sport all I believed was, I need to get in and play once more. Luckily, the coach gave me a half-hour which was tremendous good. I additionally went straight into the duels and was simply pushed to hunt them out. In fact I’ve to take it straightforward and watch out, nevertheless it felt good.”
The victory, secured by objectives from Ismael Saibari and Guus Til ended a run of three straight defeats for PSV and reduce the hole to Eredivisie leaders Ajax to 5 factors, although having performed a recreation extra.
“I am glad we took the three factors tonight,” Dest stated. “There are 9 extra video games to go that all of us need to win. We will and will solely look ahead now. In these 9 video games we have now to make up for it.”
PSV will subsequent be in motion within the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie at Arsenal on Wednesday. Nevertheless, Dest’s aspect have little likelihood of progressing after struggling an emphatic 7-1 defeat at dwelling to the Premier League aspect within the first leg final week.
Dest has 33 caps for the USMNT however has been unavailable for choice since Mauricio Pochettino took over as coach final September. Pochettino is ready to call his roster for the Concacaf Nations League finals on Tuesday. The U.S. will face Panama within the semifinals on March 20.
