Sarpreet Singh in a good place ahead of long-awaited All Whites comeback

Men’s football international: All Whites v DR Congo. Where: Estadio Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain. When: 5am Saturday (NZT). Coverage: Live stream on FIFA+, live updates on Stuff.

Sarpreet Singh can’t wait to put on an All Whites shirt again.

The talented midfielder has been eyeing up the October friendlies against DR Congo and Australia for his international comeback after putting the most challenging period of his career behind him.

Singh has been managing a long-term groin injury for the best part of two years and has not played for New Zealand since January 2022.

The injury has stalled the career of one of the country’s brightest footballers, who landed a dream move to Bayern Munich as a teenager.

After reuniting with the All Whites ahead of Saturday’s clash with DR Congo in Murcia, Spain, Singh said he was in a good place physically and mentally, and ready to make up for lost time.

He is now on the books of German second division club Hansa Rostock and is looking to re-establish himself after his exit from Bayern and a frustrating time with osteitis.

“I went through many things in the past year and a half but I managed to come out on top of it. I feel good with my body. It’s the best I’ve felt in the last two years at this moment now,” Singh said.

“I overloaded my body because before I played four years basically without taking any long break or having a decent time off and it just caught up with me.

“Mentally as well as physically it’s been very difficult. I’m not sure how many players would react in the same situation but I’m proud of the effort I put into myself, working on my body as well as my mind, and I think it’s made me stronger.

“I often think to myself, would it be better if it didn’t happen? But at the end of the day it’s part of my journey in football and I take it how it is and keep going forward.

“I’m really positive now and feeling good. I’ve proven before what I can do so I’m sure with my process I can get back to the same level.”

Reflecting on his whirlwind time at Bayern, Singh said he looked back with mainly fond memories.

He became just the second New Zealand man behind Wynton Rufer to play in the Bundesliga when he made two appearances during their title-winning 2019-20 campaign.

However, most of Singh’s four-year spell was spent away from Munich, on loan at FC Nürnberg and Jahn Regensburg, and his injury hindered his progress.

In July, Bayern decided to sell Singh to Hansa Rostock in the 2. Bundesliga.

“Ultimately you want to play at the highest level and I’ve learnt what it takes to be in that environment and now I have to push again and prove myself,” Singh said.

“I think there comes a point where you have to play for a senior men’s team at a high level, and that’s just part of the process.

“Some players might occasionally crack it from youth to first team but you often have to go out on loan or you have to establish yourself as a senior player and first team player and take the steps back.

“Obviously I want to play at the highest level I can and where I am at now is a good stepping stone.

“I’m comfortable in Germany in the second league and from there I know from there if I have a good season anything is possible.”

All Whites – October international window

Squad

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Michael Woud, Nik Tzanev

Defenders: Bill Tuiloma, Dalton Wilkins, Liberato Cacace, Michael Boxall, Nando Pijnaker, Niko Kirwan, Tommy Smith, Tyler Bindon

Midfielders: Callum McCowatt, Marko Stamenic, Matt Dibley-Dias, Matt Garbett, Sarpreet Singh

Forwards: Alex Greive, Ben Waine, Chris Wood, Elijah Just, Joey Champness, Max Mata

Fixtures

Saturday, October 14, 5am: v Democratic Republic of the Congo; Estadio Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain

Wednesday, October 18, 7.45am: v Australia; Gtech Community Stadium, London, England