The fringe Socceroos flier, who headed to Belgium on a three-year year deal from Sydney FC in June, is hopeful of a happy New Year in Europe as he targets a January return to first-team action.
With a metal rod in his tibia and a plate in his ankle the reminders of a serious fracture suffered just a month after arriving at his new club, Ibini is aiming to return to full training before Christmas after revealing the full extent of the injury.
"By January I want to be able to put my hand out to play," he said. "That would be pretty much on schedule. It’s been over three months now since my surgery and when I go for my check-ups, the more I see, the more I realise how serious an injury it was.
"In terms of the fracture, the bone actually shattered and there were a lot of fragments floating about, and with the ankle, the ligaments had to be reattached. So it was pretty bad injury.
"But I am making steady progress ... right now I am doing some cardio, I am on the cross-trainer and I am doing some leg extensions, leg press and some squats. It's step by step.
"I am trying to rebuild the muscles on my left leg; the quads, calf and hamstring.
"After the injury I couldn’t do anything at all and it's been massive progress from there.
"At least now I can walk ... so you take the little things and stay positive. It’s a week to week thing."
The nightmare beginning to Ibini's European adventure has heightened his determination to make a mark at a club where his ex-Central Coast Mariners team-mate and close friend Mat Ryan became a folk here before being head hunted by La Liga giants Valencia for $10 million in the off-season.
"It’s been frustrating because all you want to do is train and play," added Ibini.
"When you come to new club and country you are desperate to hit the ground running and show what you can do.
"But I just have to bide my time and when the time comes, I will just have to be ready."
With Club Brugge lying fifth after 13 Pro League matches and struggling in their UEFA Europa League group, Ibini added: "Everybody tells me it’s a long season, and I just can’t wait to be back in the New Year and try and help the team in any way I can at the back end of the season."
Ibini, 23, keeps one eye on the A-League where he follows the fortunes of ex-clubs Central Coast and the Sky Blues, where he flourished under the tutorship of coach Graham Arnold.
"With the team they have and having Arnie as coach Sydney will be there or thereabouts again this season because he knows exactly what it takes to win things," he said.
Ibini is also a fan of Mariners coach Tony Walmsley, his one-time mentor with the Gosford club's youth team.
"He’s a good each and I am sure they will spring a few surprises this season. They have made a habit of that over the years and I don't think this season will be any different."
