Brechin City’s latest signing Garry Kenneth may have fallen from grace but he sees his move to Glebe Park as a golden opportunity to get back to a higher level.
The 26-year-old defender was playing for Scotland back in 2010 and made the bold switch from Dundee United to English League Two outfit Bristol Rovers on a three-year deal in the summer of 2012.
An injury-plagued period followed though, and he was released early from his contract, leaving him staring at the football wilderness.
However, Kenneth is back north of the border and has a few points to prove.
The Scottish Cup-winning centre back interested a number of clubs and has been training with former club United to keep fit, although he was pleased to end months of uncertainty by signing for Brechin until the end of the season.
“I don’t dwell on the fact I was in the Scotland squad a few years ago and now I’m in League One,” he said.
“It was an unbelievable high in my career and hopefully one day I can get back to that but just now it’s about playing games for Brechin City and getting fit and hopefully helping the team.
“It didn’t work going down to England but I’ll just work hard, enjoy playing football and hopefully get back up to the Scottish Premiership.
“I’m grateful to Jackie and the coaching staff for letting me train with Dundee United. I’m gutted it didn’t work out at United but when you haven’t played for a year it’s going to tough to sign anywhere, never mind the Scottish Premiership.
“That’s why I’m grateful to Ray (McKinnon) for giving me the chance to play. Brechin City are up there looking for promotion through the play-offs so that was appealing.
“I’d have gone anywhere to get games and be back playing and showing what I can do.
“I’ll train with Dundee United Monday, Thursday and Friday and train with Brechin Tuesday and Thursday so I’m looking forward to it.
“My missus is pregnant and due on May 24 so I wasn’t planning on a holiday anyway but I’ll work through the summer and try to get as fit as I can.”
Kenneth’s last competitive game was against Gillingham on January 5, 2013, when he tore his cruciate in an incident which kept him out for most of the year.
“I picked up the injury five minutes before the break but tried to play on and I couldn’t do it so I stayed inside at half-time,” he continued.
“At the time it didn’t feel that bad, when I turned I heard a crunch and my leg went numb. I got up and tried to run and felt fine at first but when I was running about it felt like my leg was waving in the wind.
“It took a while to sink in that I’d be out for a good six to nine months. It’s been a tough road back but I can learn from it and hopefully never go through it again.”
Kenneth could make his debut as City travel to face bottom club Airdrieonians in League One this afternoon and he is keeping all his options open with regard to the future.
“It’s been tough training with United all week and then watching them going and enjoying a game on a Saturday but I’m just looking forward to getting started again,” he said. “It’s going to be tough going into games and trying to get match fitness but I’m looking forward to it.”