Match sharpness is something else, but fortunately for City, Fornaroli has recovered in time to play in their last six matches – scoring five goals in the process – and is relishing the opportunity to show how close he is to the old Fornaroli in Friday's first elimination final, against Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park.
But, he admits, there were dark days and melancholy moments when he feared, if only fleetingly, that he might not make it back, even if right now he feels as good as he has done since being injured.
''I feel very good, very happy, I am enjoying this moment, it's a different week, it's the first final, a different feeling, because there are more people around, more media, more interviews, everyone is talking about the finals and the game, it's great,'' he said.
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''It's been a very hard year for me at the start because I did very well in the pre-season, and the last month before the season started I got injured.
''I did my best to come back better and to come back quickly, and it's not easy.''
In those dark moments when he feared that he might not come back the player he was, or he suffered a setback when he had set his sights on returning earlier, it was the support of his teammates and family – wife Erica, daughter Frederica and new-born son Benicio – who helped him through the ordeal.
''Sometimes I thought so (that he might not recover). Not now, but before. I still had big pain. When I tried to push myself in December – because I was crazy to try and come back early – I set that date, but when I tried to push the pain is massive.
''The medical staff tried to control me, they told me I couldn't do more to prepare myself, it was time that I needed, and maybe this pain will never go.
''At the same time I was always believing in myself, and I say no, it's not the moment to stop playing.
''When you have worked hard and you know it's going well and you think maybe you come back early and then you can't and you are disappointed, but my family was always there, I am very lucky.''
Fornaroli has tried to spin his injury and make a positive out of a negative. He believes that he learned about patience, endurance and strengthened mentally as a result of his time on the sideline. That, he says, has made him a better player and person.
''I worried about my ankle, but I think at the same time I win a lot. It's my first big injury and I have to work ridiculously hard, every day, push myself and try to do everything and I learn how hard it is, particularly to watch the game.
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''This happened for a reason … so that's why I think maybe I win more than I lose.''
He is happy with his form, scoring against Wellington last week in a surprising 2-1 loss in New Zealand.
''Maybe I lose a little bit of sharpness, the last game I start to feel a little bit better, I scored a goal, for a striker it's very important and it gives me confidence.
''Five goals in six games is not a bad return.''
Ever one to find a positive from a negative, Fornaroli jokes that losing to the Phoenix might even have been a blessing in disguise.
''We were going to finish third anyway, but now we have a second chance in the finals.
''Maybe we might have won against Wellington and lost the first final. That was the problem.
''So I think its good to wake up and play the final, it's a good learning experience before the final.''
Winning the title with City would, he says, be one of his great career achievements. He has two Uruguayan championship medals from his days with Danubio and Nacional, but ''winning the A-League with this club would be its first championship and make sure we are in the history book.''
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Michael Lynch, The Age's expert on soccer, has had extensive experience of high level journalism in the UK and Australia. Michael has covered the Socceroos through Asia, Europe and South America in their past three World Cup campaigns. He has also reported on Grands Prix and top class motor sport from Asia and Europe. He has won several national media awards for both sports and industry journalism.
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