Valkanis, who started training with team-mates for the first time on Monday, says he still has a lot to offer.

"I haven't even spoken about that (the captaincy) and I'm hoping that it will continue," he said.

"When you are a leader you want to lead and that's part of my game and I think I play well when I lead."

"Regardless of that I'm always a big believer as well that if you don't wear the yellow arm band it doesn't mean you're not a leader on the park but I would love to have the job."

Valkanis led the Reds to victory in last year's pre-season cup final but lasted just three rounds of the Hyundai A-League season before disaster struck at Hindmarsh Stadium when he sustained a serious knee injury.

Since then his main focus has been on recovery but the 33-year-old said he'd also tried to display his leadership qualities from the sidelines.

"Obviously it was very hard for me not being able to captain on the pitch, I think it's a lot easier when you can get on the park and lead by example," he said.

"But I learned a lot about leadership and what qualities you need to have when you can't deliver things on the park, you've got to do it on the outside."

"It gave me a lot of time to spend with a lot of people on an individual basis and try and help especially a lot of the younger blokes trying to break through."

"I also involved myself with a lot of other things around the club, I kept myself very busy."

Valkanis' commitment to a comeback has also been noted by the club which signed him for a one-year contract back in February.

The former Victorian said he'd been running quicker than last year and was happy with his overall fitness. It's now a countdown until Reds supporters will see the reliable defender in action.

"(After signing the contract) they told me to just take it easy and get yourself ready for the pre-season cup or if not the pre-season cup then be ready for the first A-League game and that's what I'm heading for," he said.

"Day by day you gain a lot more confidence. The one thing this injury has taught me is patience and I'm not going to rush and be stupid about it now that I've got this far and I've got plenty of time ahead of me to get it right.

"You feel like a little kid when Christmas is coming around. I'm feeling quite fresh and energetic ... I'm taking this chance with my both hands and am going to make the most of it."

Maintaining the captaincy and making a successful comeback would be a fitting reward for the veteran United player. Valkanis said he'd be glad to get back on the pitch after a challenging rehabilitation process.

"You do train quite a lot by yourself on the sideline. Even though you are training at the same time the boys are in the middle of the park, you can hear them, you can hear them having an intense session, having games and competitive sessions and you're on the side competing against yourself," he said.

"But never once through this nine-and-a-half months that I've been out have I thought 'I can't do it' or 'I don't want to do it anymore'. I've never fallen out of love with the game, sometimes people do, I've always loved it."