ABO Eisa cannot wait to finally introduce himself properly to the City fans.

A fourth successive outing on Saturday would be only his 10th in total for the club he joined 17 months ago.

“I don’t think they know who I am!” he laughed as he contemplated the prospect of stepping out at Valley Parade again after such a lengthy battle with injuries.

Eisa admits he can’t stop smiling since getting the all-clear to put his hamstring horror well behind him at last.

The 62-minute appearance at Sutton was Eisa’s longest on the pitch since his last start for Scunthorpe in April 2021.

His previous best for City was from the bench on his debut against Nottingham Forest before his injury nightmare kicked in.

“It’s an opportunity for me to show what I can do now and you’ll see what I’m about.

“I was nagging the gaffer a bit to get out there and play. But him and the physios have dealt with it well.

“I’ve not been rushed and my body feels good, so it’s all positive.”

Mark Hughes has had to be patient with a player he inherited in the Valley Parade sick bay on his City arrival. Eisa has been grateful for the support the manager has given him during those long days in the gym on the road to recovery.

“He’s been good, he’s a calm presence and a jokey character like Glyn (Hodges),” added Eisa.

“My relationship with him has always been good. He was always speaking to me about the injury and how I was inside as well.

“It was difficult being out injured when the gaffer came in but I was just focusing on getting back. I knew that once I was back in training sessions I’d be fine.

“He was looking forward to me playing in pre-season and that obviously didn’t happen. But now I’ve got the chance to show him what I can do and I want to prove that I can be a success here.”

A cameo as a sub in the home win over Carlisle on the final day of last season almost felt like a reward for all the painstaking rehab work.

Eisa could not wait to get back to it properly in pre-season - only to suffer another problem in the training camp in Spain.

“I just thought after I had the surgery that starting this season was a fresh start,” he said. “Then to get hit with a setback again was tough.

“Initially I didn’t think it was going to be a long-term injury, so it hurt when I was told it was

“Having those injuries before, I’d learned how to deal with it a bit. I kind of went numb.

“Obviously I had the support system. It was difficult but I had to get on with it again.”

There was also the winger’s strong faith to help him through yet another challenge.

“I’m a religious man and always say that God gives tests to strong soldiers.

“I feel like he’s given me this one and I need to handle it in the best way possible.

“I always knew I would be back out there. Everything was just a delay, I thought I would be back.

“You’ve got to keep that positive mindset, otherwise it is difficult.”

The players rallied around him from the start - a strong support network both from at home with his family and at the club with team-mates kept Eisa going through the most testing circumstances.

“It’s hard to feel part of the squad but they made me feel involved here. The players have been so welcoming and I can’t thank them enough, even the ones who were here last season too.

“Mental health is so important. It’s getting talked about a lot more so it’s definitely improving.

“We’ve got someone here who comes in and speaks to us and I know other clubs have got that too.

“Everyone should have their own support system and people to talk to. You need to reach out and speak, you can’t keep quiet.

“As men, we keep everything inside and be strong. But it’s better to speak and it’s been good for me.

“Now I’m praying for promotion and that’s what we’re working towards. It will be very sweet.”