Not fit enough for 90 minutes yet, but a duel for the Johan Cruyff Shield may still be feasible.

Ruben van Bommel has been through a real rough patch, but the forward can look ahead again. After 10 months of rehabilitation, Van Bommel made his comeback this weekend in the friendly match between PSV and Union Saint-Gilloise.

Of course, the question is whether Van Bommel will be fit enough in a few weeks to play the match for the Johan Cruyff Shield. Mark van Bommel’s son has meanwhile become a well-liked player among the supporters, who are craving his return and his dazzling play.

In an interview with De Telegraaf, Van Bommel says: “This feels like a milestone. That seems logical to me. If you can be back on the pitch again after such a long period, you’re very happy. I’ve worked toward this for a long time. In terms of fitness, it was good, I think.”

Van Bommel continues: “In terms of play, yes as well. I just still don’t have match fitness yet. I hope that will come back too. I think that if you haven’t played football for three hundred days, you need a bit of rhythm. So yes, that will probably come.”

Then he gives an update on his fitness ahead of the match for the Johan Cruyff Shield: “I think I am medically fit; otherwise I wouldn’t be on the pitch. And match fit. Of course, I’m not yet fit enough for 90 minutes—everyone can figure that out. I’m working towards that, and it’s still not one hundred percent.”

“I obviously hadn’t felt that for a long time. So it was really nice to do it again. If you have had to wait that long for it, I do get happy about it. So I definitely enjoyed that as well", he points to the actions in the match against the Belgians.

“I think I had a pretty good rehabilitation, really. I’m actually not finished yet, I’m still in it. Of course it doesn’t go perfectly for nine months the way you want. I think nobody has that. But I think I’ve had a good rehabilitation overall. Not 100% perfect as I wanted, but overall pretty good.”

On 2 August he plays the match for the Johan Cruijff Shield: “No. I’m happy as long as my knee stays in good shape. That’s what matters to me. And whether I’m fit in September for 90 minutes or in October or August doesn’t make that much difference. As long as it happens.”