Mrcela has only managed two appearances this season, having returned from his knee injury as a late substitute on ANZAC Day.

He said he sustained the knee injury late last season but played through the pain during Chunnam’s successful battle against relegation.

However under the advice of Chunnam’s medical staff, he rested his knee and didn’t undergo an operation in the off-season, only for the pain to return once training recommenced.

“They were saying it’s not a big problem and you’re going to have holidays for three months where the pain is going to go away,” he said.

“I was on holiday where I didn’t do anything, no running or training, and I didn’t feel the pain.

“Once I came back here in January, in the first few trainings I was feeling uncomfortable.

“We did an MRI and they said it’s no big problem, only the patella but the Croatian doctors kept saying it’s meniscus damage, so I need a small surgery.

“The club didn’t let me go to Croatia. I was here doing rehabilitation, drinking painkillers and going through day by day.

“I already had problems in the pre-season in January and February and they kept delaying and delaying. Now it’s May and I’ve still got problems.”

Mrcela said he would head back to Croatia during the mid-season break to get the injury resolved, having grown frustrated with Chunnam, who he alleges were suspect of his intentions.

“Because my contract is finishing soon, they thought I might be faking it, so I could go to Croatia, make my knee better and claim a few more months salary,” he said.

“They said I cannot go to Croatia, ‘you’re going to do your recovery here’. I’ve done some rehabilitation but it’s not good.

“It’s better, but not 100 per cent fixed. Every time I’m on painkillers, I’m doing training I’m not 100 per cent. I can feel my knee is 100 per cent.

“I’m going to go through these games and then during the World Cup break I’ll go home, fix the knee and be ready for the second part of the season.”

Mrcela's Chunnam Dragons are away to Jeju United in the K-League on Saturday.