LONDON: Al-Nasr striker Saad Al-Harthi is ready to put a nightmare season behind him and start afresh after a successful surgery on his left knee. In January, Al-Harthi’s playing career suffered a blow when he damaged a ligament on his left knee. Al-Harthi, 25, is now on the road to full recovery under the care of Dr. Johnson Laval, who performed the procedure at a hospital in London.

The limp on his knee was visible when Al-Harthi arrived for the interview with Arab News in which he spoke about his keenness to go back home, hopefully in June, and resume his career. Coming back from injury itself is a tough proposition but Al-Harthi is determined to become an even better player.

Al-Harthi feels sorry he won’t be able to help Nasr when it plays Al-Shabab in the finale of the Prince Sultan bin Fahd Cup next month.

“I wish I could be there but I’m certain it is God’s will and I have no objection. I am also confident in my team’s skills to win the cup and wish them all the best,” he said.

He said he has always wondered why many injured footballers disappear after an injury but he added, “Now I know why. The treatment phase is really hard and painful. It is not easy to bear it.”

“My knee surgery was successful, thank God and now I’m following the doctor’s advice and doing medical therapy daily so that hopefully by June I would be able to go back home and play again and make up for what I’ve missed,” he said.

The interview was stopped several times in order for his fans of different ages to check on his health and take photos with him, which he obliged. “I’m a Hilal fan but I wish you all the best Saad,” said one of the fans.

Al-Harthi was 16 years old and then playing in school leagues when he was spotted by Abdullah Al-Khuraif, a Nasr honorary member, and recommended him to the club. His father refused citing studies should be the top priority. He eventually relented and though he supports Al-Ittifaq “he is with me definitely when I’m playing,” according to Al-Harthi.

Maradona has always been his first role model but the “legendary Majid Abdullah is also one of the best players I look up to whether in local or international level,” he said. Al-Harthi is among the new rising football talents who earned the moniker Raúl of Arabia after the Spanish footballer Raúl González because of similarities in looks and playing techniques.

With a height of 1.78 meters and a strong left foot, Al-Harthi booked a place on the national team and earned the admiration of all. Before his performance nosedived in the recent season due to injury, Al-Harthi used to deliver crowd-pleasing displays with at least 15 goals the previous seasons. He helped his team secure victory on several occasions. His fans would probably never forget the goal Al-Harthi scored with a header three minutes in injury time to help his team win over Indonesia 2-1 in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. He also saved Saudi Arabia in the World Cup qualifying tournament when he scored the winning goals against Kuwait and Uzbekistan.

Al-Harthi said Al-Nasr “would always by my best local club and where I feel like home” though he has had a stint with Al-Ittihad in 2006. Like any other footballer he dreams of playing for European clubs to gain more experience.

The media had put a lot of pressure on Saad comparing him with 2007 Asian best player Yasser Al-Qahtani, who plays for Al-Hilal. He welcomes the comparison, saying “It is always good to have a competition with someone who is as good as Yasser. I’m proud of him and of what he all achieved for the country.”

Many people had been influential in Al-Harthi’s life, he said, but the closest is his father who taught him that by working hard you could achieve the best, and his brother Abdullah, who is Al-Harthi’s business agent.

Before ending the interview Al-Harthi wanted to specially thank his colleague, Mohammed Al-Ghatani, who came to stay with him. He appreciated Al-Ghatani’s gesture “because it means a lot to me.”

Al-Harthi also thanked Prince Faisal bin Turki and Prince Fahd bin Faisal for their generous concern, as well as Prince Sultan bin Fahd, president of the General Presidency of Saudi Youth Welfare, and his deputy Prince Nawaf bin Faisal, for checking on him. He also cited Dr. Azim Theeb, from Nasr club, for joining him during his stay in London.