Sam Stanton has lifted the lid on his alternative training regime at Dundee United.
The midfielder, who joined the Tangerines on a year-long loan from Hibs, has been praised by Tannadice manager Ray McKinnon for not allowing his lack of time on the training pitch affect his performances.
Indeed, Stanton is widely regarded as one of the stand-out signings made by the club in the summer and he will be in the thick of things when United travel to Paisley to face St Mirren in the Championship today.
The day after the Buddies’ game, though, it will be a lazy Sunday afternoon in front of the TV for the 23-year-old as he lets his knee recover.
The following days will see him head to the gym on his own instead of joining his teammates, as he explained.
“I have got tendonitis in my knee so I can’t do much training,” said Stanton.
“It is just something I have to manage.
“It gets painful and it is really sore on a Sunday so I find I don’t do much the day after a game.
“I pretty much have to spend my Sundays in the house letting my knee recover.
“I can’t really do anything extreme anyway because I always have to be mindful of it.
“I can get through games no problem but I then have to tailor my week to make sure I am right for a Saturday.
“My normal week is usually going to the gym when the rest of the lads are out training, so I’m still doing fitness work.
“But instead of being out there training with the rest of the group, in the early part of the week especially I have to take the load off my knee.
“That means doing a lot on the bike because that keeps the strain off my knee but I still get the fitness work I need.
“I would prefer to be out training with the rest of the lads but at the moment I can’t do that all the time.
“The knee problem has been going on for a few years now, unfortunately.
“I just have to do what I can to make the pain go away.
“What we are doing over the long term is trying to build up the muscles around my knee to make it better.
“Hopefully, in the end that gives it the support it needs and will make it go away.
“It all stems from an operation I had about five years ago and it has been an issue since then.
“Now it’s about managing it and what I’m doing is helping it.”
Stanton admitted that it can get lonely being inside when all his colleagues are outside enjoying the St Andrews sunshine or rain.
He said: “It is difficult being on your own at times.
“However, I can feel the benefits of it and that makes it easier.
“I know the work I am doing is making it better.”
Stanton also stressed that the injury isn’t on his mid when he is out on the pitch playing for United.
“The knee isn’t an issue during games,” he insisted.
“I’m used to it now.
“It is not something that enters my head.”
The biggest struggle for Stanton – and the rest of the Tangerines – last weekend was breaking down a stubborn Brechin City side.
They eventually did so thanks to Scott McDonald’s goal 10 minutes from time but Stanton conceded it was a slog.
He added: “It wasn’t great but the lads know that.
“Still, we got the win and that was important, especially at a club like this where you are expected to win every week.
“Last season at Dumbarton I was on the other side of it and we made it hard for the bigger teams.
“So I know you have to work hard to beat those kind of sides.
“Maybe last season United wouldn’t have won games like that one.”
Stanton is expecting the Buddies to pose a real challenge to United’s 100% league record.
He said: “St Mirren away is one of the hardest games you can get in this league so it’s going to be a tough afternoon for us.
“They had a very good result last weekend against Livingston so we know it’s going to be really tough going down there.”
