Orlando Pirates forward Thembinkosi Lorch has returned to the South Africa national team for the first time since winning the last of his eight international caps back in 2019.
The 28-year-old is one of 23 players who were named in the Bafana Bafana squad by coach Hugo Broos for next week's 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, the 2019 PSL Footballer of the Year revealed his pleasure at earning a recall after a season disrupted by persistent injury concerns.
"First of all I want to thank everyone who supported me," Lorch told the SAFA media team. "It wasn't an easy season with the injuries but I am happy to be back with Bafana Bafana and I am looking forward to the game.
"To be honest, it was sooner than I expected, but I knew that it was going to come because my performances were improving and I was helping the team to win games.
"Before the season started, I got a groin injury which sidelined me for six weeks, then when I came back I dislocated my shoulder which needed an operation and kept me out for, maybe, three months. I came back in early December but by then I had gained weight and I had to work on my fitness.
"I think I am getting there," he added. "I'm not going to put pressure on myself, I'm going to take it slowly until I reach my potential. But I am getting there, and you can see in my last few games [for Pirates] I gave my all."
