HE’S a tough cookie, Ricardo Fuller.

It will take more than dislocated shoulders, damages to ankles and knees to keep the Jamaica and Stoke City striker off the pitch. And he has sustained all of the above and more at some point or another in his 10-year, first-class career.

Fuller’s latest injury scare came less than two weeks ago in his team’s English Premier League 2-1 win over Newcastle. It had fans, teammates and manager Tony Pulis on edge. They were worried for their influential frontman who, according to Wikipedia.com, has scored 40 goals in 148 appearance since joining Stoke in 2006.

A week later on Saturday after dislocating his right shoulder, he was miraculously back in action against Blackburn Rovers — albeit as a second-half substitute. But he was back, to the surprise of many, except himself.

Fuller, a former Tivoli Gardens star, is now set to make a long-awaited return for the Reggae Boyz against arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors tomorrow at the National Stadium.

“It’s a joy to represent my country at any level… to represent your country you don’t need any further motivation as that is motivation in itself,” he said Wednesday at Cuddy’z Sports Bar in New Kingston.

“I’ve always done the best for the team… football is not about individuals, it’s about team, and I give of my best at all times and hopefully it will be good enough on Sunday (tomorrow),” he added.

But is he fit enough to give of his best tomorrow?

“Last Tuesday, I had two injections, one on the left (shoulder) and one on the right, it’s sugar injections — it’s not steroids… so hopefully, I’ll be fit enough to play,” explained the 30-year-old.

Looking back at what seemed like a serious injury at the time, Fuller said scans showed it was more superficial than anything else.

“The right shoulder came out and I believe 16 months ago the left one came out. (In the latest incident) scans have not shown any damage to ligaments or any bruises to the bone or fracture. That’s a plus, so I guess I was second time lucky,” he told journalists.

“When I injured the left shoulder, the same thing happened, as the scans showed that there was no damage to the muscles or bone. What the doctor did (in the last injury) was put me to sleep and just put it (shoulder) back in and it healed, but there are little aches and pains, but I was given (medication) for the pain and swelling,” said the six-foot-three-inch striker who has terrorised defenders in the English leagues with his fearsome close skills and change of pace.

Fuller, who launched his England professional career with Crystal Palace back in 2001, said he’s generally satisfied with his season so far.

“I’ve been training hard and trying always to develop that chemistry with my teammates. Over the years, I’ve done well and the team has been doing well… we’ve a good unit as a team in the changing room and on the field,” he outlined.

The former Camperdown High student is joined at Stoke by Trinidad’s Kenwyne Jones and intimated a partnership between the two is taking shape.

“He is actually one of my students. Everything I used to do he would follow me and he was my partner at Southampton, so for him to come at Stoke now may be a match made in heaven. It seems pretty good so far,” said Fuller, popularly called ‘Wily Boo’ by Jamaican fans.

Fuller has been an influential member of Stoke since joining in 2006 from Southampton for £500,000, and his goals helped win them promotion to the Premier League in 2008.

He has also had stints with Scottish outfit Hearts, along with Preston North End, Portsmouth and Ipswich Town.