Malta stalwart... Andrè Schembri races past Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci during the Euro 2016 home qualifier. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Andrè Schembri has high hopes of recapturing his best form sooner rather than later after agreeing terms to rejoin Cypriot club Omonia Nicosia on an 18-month deal yesterday.

News that Schembri had terminated his contract with FSV Frankfurt, barely five months after signing for the Bundesliga 2 club on a free transfer, had come as a surprise to many as the 28-year-old had been a success at virtually every overseas team he played for in the last five years.

His difficulties to settle in Frankfurt had been weighing on Schembri’s mind for months, eventually prompting him to seek a way out of the club but the Malta forward is now looking forward to his return to Omonia Nicosia where his performances and scoring exploits made him the darling of the club’s fans.

“At Omonia Nicosia I had everything,” Schembri, who was the top scorer of the Cypriot club last season with 17 goals, told Times of Malta.

“I decided to move to Germany last summer because the level of football there is better and I wanted to play in a tougher league. My target was to have a good season with FSV Frankfurt to boost my chances of moving to a better club.

“But the last four months have been the most difficult in my entire career.

“Psychological problems didn’t allow me to concentrate fully on my football and consequently I was unable to show my best at FSV Frankfurt.”

Germany was not a new country for Schembri as, in the early years of his professional career, he had short spells with FC Carl Zeiss Jena and Eintracht Braunschweig, but he struggled to adapt to life in bustling Frankfurt.

“I just couldn’t settle in Frankfurt and that affected me psychologically,” Schembri said.

I just couldn’t settle in Frankfurt and that affected me psychologically

“The club tried to help me. They told me to go back to Malta for two weeks but that wasn’t going to solve my problems.

“Once I had made up my mind to leave, I had two options.

“The first was to return to Maltese football, which I was not keen on to be honest, and the second was to go back to a familiar environment where I felt comfortable and happy.

“The choice inevitably fell on AC Omonia as I know the club very well and I really enjoyed my time there.”

Omonia moved quickly to secure Schembri’s signature after the latter announced his departure from FSV Frankfurt on Monday.

“When Omonia learned that I had terminated my contract with FSV Frankfurt, they contacted me immediately,” Schembri said.

“I had offers from Greece and other clubs in Cyprus but I was eager to rejoin Omonia as I wanted to go to a place where I feel happy.

“That was my priority. I know the majority of the players at Omonia.”

After two excellent seasons with AC Omonia, Schembri found it hard to hold down a regular place at FSV Frankfurt, who are 11th in the 18-team Bundesliga 2 championship with 18 points from 15 matches.

“I wasn’t happy in the last five months,” Schembri, who scored one goal in 11 appearances for FSV Frankfurt, said.

“When you are sad and down, you can’t perform to the best of your abilities. I was disappointed to leave FSV Frankfurt abruptly but I had to do what is best for me.”

Ghedin faith

Notwithstanding Schembri’s struggles at FSV Frankfurt, Malta coach Pietro Ghedin kept faith with his trusted forward in Malta’s opening four Euro 2016 Group H qualifiers.

By Schembri’s own admission, his performances for Malta have not been top-notch in the last two months but he did well in the 1-0 defeat to Italy and excelled in the 1-1 draw away to Bulgaria last month.

“Pietro Ghedin helped me a lot,” Schembri said. “He knew what I was going through but showed faith in me.

“I was not content with my performances for the national team but I always gave my best.”

Schembri, who has scored three goals in 63 appearances for Malta, is focusing on returning to his best.

“My aim is to settle as quickly as possible at Omonia,” Schembri said.

“I want to overcome the psychological issues I faced during my time with FSV Frankfurt.

“I’m in regular contact with my friend who is a psychologist and lives in Cyprus.

“I’m determined to regain my best form with AC Omonia.”

Schembri will spend Christmas with his family in Malta as he is due to link up with Omonia towards the end of December.

Omonia Nicosia are fifth in the league, level on 16 points with AEL Limassol and Anorthosis.