Nico Vaesen has revealed how his injury heartbreak has cost him the chance of an international career. Vaesen was enjoying his first ever Premiership campaign last year, when disaster struck during the high profile local derby against Aston Villa. With Blues leading 2-0 at Villa Park he dealt with an innocuous looking back pass and suffered a snapped cruciate ligament injury. It could have hardly happened at a worse time for the Belgian shot stopper as his status had been elevated back home after a series of impressive performances in England's top flight. In fact, even at the age of 33, Vaesen could feel the international stage beckoning after so many years of trying. Givemefootball's Ian Clarkson spoke to the experienced keeper about the road to recovery and his international prospects.
Q:HAS TOP FLIGHT FOOTBALL HELPED YOUR CAUSE BACK IN BELGIUM?
A:Playing in the Premiership has certainly raised my profile back home. People here couldn't understand why I wasn't in the Belgian squad, but ironically the week after we played Villa the national team had a friendly in Croatia and the first choice keeper was injured. I would have had a very good chance of my first cap if I hadn't picked up the injury.
Q:SO ARE YOU LIKELY TO GET A CAP IN THE FUTURE?
A:If I had played in the Premiership before last season then I would have been called up to the national squad earlier. Playing in Division One doesn't have the same kudos as being in the top flight and the pressure back home was mounting for me to receive a call-up after starting in the Premiership. It was a difficult winter for Blues last year until we beat Liverpool and Villa and with the signings we made we had more power and organisation, which left us conceding fewer goals so things were looking good. However, if Belgium don't make it through to the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal then they will try again with a younger squad and there is no point in calling up a 33-year-old.
Q:WITH THE SIGNING OF MAIK TAYLOR IT MEANS THERE ARE NOW THREE KEEPERS BATTLING FOR ONE PLACE. FANCY YOUR CHANCES?
A:The Premiership is a fantastic place to play football. No disrespect to the First Division, which is a really good learning school and a very tough league to get out of, but once you have tasted the Premiership you want to stay there. Part of being in he Premiership means fighting for your place and we have got five strikers battling for two places so it is the same in every position, but I am confident that one day soon I will be back again.
Q:IS IT AN INCENTIVE TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER YOUR INJURY?
A:I just have to work as hard as I can and let the gaffer see that I am fit enough. It is a good challenge for me as people think you are never going to recover from a big injury - especially when you get a bit older - so I am out to prove people wrong because I definitely want to stay in the Premiership.
Q:HAS IT BEEN TOUGH WORKING ON YOUR OWN TO GET FIT AGAIN?
A:It has been very tough but as a goalkeeper you are used to working as an individual albeit in a group. That has meant I have had no problems working on my own. What I have been doing is building little breaks into my schedule to go away with the wife and kids for a weekend and leave everything behind. I have been doing that every four to five weeks just to keep myself mentally strong and I haven't set myself any targets yet to return. I just take it week by week and I don't care how long it takes as long as I am right.
