Fit-again striker Oskar Zawada has left the door open to remain in the A-League Men next season, calling Wellington Phoenix the most special club of his career.
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The towering Polish No.9 has slotted 20 goals in two injury-affected seasons in the league, showing his special talents with a range of superb finishes.
Crucially for the Phoenix, he is back to make an impact at the business end of the season after two months out with a thigh injury.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's crunch clash with Macarthur FC - in which the Nix could clinch the Premiers Plate - Zawada revealed he was told his "very weird and not usual" injury could have sidelined him for much longer.
"It looked dangerous ... I didn't know what was going to happen," he said.
"I spoke with many doctors in Europe and here, and they were telling me that the timeframe can be from one to six, seven months, depends on your body.
"But my body is good and strong. I did everything that was possible to be back and ...I'm happy, and hopefully, it's going to be good."
Zawada revealed an innocuous-looking kick to the quad suffered against Newcastle Jets in December was behind the trouble.
The 28-year-old was still feeling pain during substitute appearances in January and February, before fresh scans showed bone growth on his femur - a rare response to a stress injury.
Zawada played seven minutes in Wellington's 1-1 draw with Newcastle last Friday and is in line for a bench role against the Bulls as coach Giancarlo Italiano builds up his match fitness for a finals campaign.
"I consider myself a healthy person so I'm ready to start whenever coach wants," he said.
Given his class - and a looming salary cap crunch - Nix fans are resigned to seeing the last of Zawada over the next month, expecting him to resume a club career in Europe after this campaign.
Zawada said he had not yet made up his mind, in part, due to the support Kiwi supporters have shown him in New Zealand.
"Still everything is open, I've signed nowhere," he said.
"I have my plan in my head but I'm prepared for everything ... I'm happy to play and win and be successful and it doesn't matter if it's Wellington, Europe, or I don't know, Saudi Arabia.
"Wellington time has been the best time in my life.
"I'm enjoying my time on the pitch, and also private (life) because I really like this country and I also like this A-League as we can fly to Australia and see Australia.
"How the Phoenix brought me here and showed me the A-League, it's amazing, and also how I developed as a player, it's just a big, big thank you and just a good feeling."
Australian Associated Press
