Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos star Robbie Kruse earns praise from Bayer Leverkusen fitness coach

BAYER Leverkusen’s fitness coach Daniel Jouvin believes Robbie Kruse will continue to shine in the Asian Cup, claiming the forward is stronger than ever.

Australia's Robbie Kruse (R) is tackled by Kuwait's Ali Hussian Fadhel (L) during the opening football match of the AFC Asian Cup in Melbourne on January 9, 2015. AFP PHOTO / William WEST --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE--

BAYER Leverkusen’s fitness coach Daniel Jouvin believes Robbie Kruse will continue to shine in the Asian Cup, claiming the forward is stronger than ever after recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

SOCCEROOS PLAYER RATINGS

COMMANDING SOCCEROOS BRUSH ASIDE KUWAIT

PLAYER RATINGS: WHO STARRED, WHO STRUGGLED & CAST YOUR VOTE

VIDEO: THE FIVE KEY MOMENTS IN THE VICTORY

ANALYSIS: BIG WIN COMES WITH A WARNING

VICTORY HAS POSTECOGLOU CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC

Robbie Kruse caused the Kuwait defence problems all night.

Kruse was one of the stars in the Socceroos Asian Cup opener in Melbourne on Friday night.

He won a second-half penalty, which Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak converted, and was a constant menace to the Kuwait defence as Australia opened the tournament with a 4-1 win.

Kruse was forced to miss the 2014 FIFA World Cup after injuring his knee during a training session with Leverkusen last January.

Robbie Kruse works with the club’s fitness manager Daniel Jouvin Abraham last year.

“He’s (Kruse) got all the ingredients to shine in this (Asian Cup) competition, especially because he is ready and motivated to do so,’’ Jouvin said.

“He had torn his ACL, and had surgery to fix the ligament.

“The recovery time in this case takes between six and eight months.

“It was a team work (doctors, physios and fitness coaches) where he was training hard every day to recover his strength, speed, flexibility, resistance and confidence to come back and play at a high level again.

“When an injury like that happens in an athletes’ life, he hardly will be the same player (in a positive way), and in Robbie Kruse’s case I believe he is more prepared physically and mentally than before.

“This kind of injury takes the athlete to a very mature level.”

But it’s not the first time Jouvin has revived careers in jeopardy.

The long road to recovery.

He has helped some of the greatest players in the world - Brazil’s Ronaldo and Adriano - and former Adelaide United defender Cassio return to the pitch after serious injuries.

Jouvin was in Adelaide last week visiting Cassio.

He was on a short winter break from Leverkusen before returning to club duties. They are currently training in the US before the Bundesliga restarts on January 31.

Jouvin believes Cassio - who turned 35 on Thursday - is ready to resume playing after suffering from a hamstring injury, which kept the affable left back out of the game since November 2013.

Cassio cut ties with the Reds just before Christmas.

Cassio and Jouvin also met in Brazil for rehabilitation in Adelaide’s off season during the FIFA World Cup last June before meeting again before Christmas.

“We have worked together for four years at Flamengo and I have helped him with some of the injuries that he’s had along the way (in his career),’’ Jouvin said.

“He had a very serious hamstring injury.

“We worked very hard everyday for him to be able to recover his muscle’s strength from the hamstring injury, and also specific trainings with the ball for him to get the confidence and the movements of the game back.

“I believe Cassio is better every day and motivated to come back and play.

“He is ready to play for a long time.

“Doing a specific preventive training, trainings respecting the players’ history and his age, I have no doubt that he can play in high level again.

“I still don’t understand why Adelaide United didn’t play him if he was training normal as the same as the other players.”

Jouvin made his claim to fame when he helped Ronaldo and Adriano make comebacks from debilitating knee injuries.

“The secret is 50 per cent hard work every day and 50 per cent players’ dedication and motivation, aiming to get ready,” Jouvin said.

“Winners like Ronaldo that have an incredible inner motivation always beat the challenge.”

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Socceroos star Robbie Kruse earns praise from Bayer Leverkusen fitness coach