Scott Robertson has gone from pessimism to optimism when it comes to his dream of playing in the Active Nation Scottish Cup final for Dundee United.
The Scotland international midfielder was advised by doctors that he should consider bringing his season to a premature end following groin surgery.
However, a subsequent suggestion that if he is not feeling any pain then he can play on has been seized on by Robertson and now his Hampden hopes are very much alive.
A nine-minute outing as a substitute against Motherwell on April 18 was followed by a solid half-hour in the 2-1 defeat to Rangers at Tannadice on Saturday.
He certainly did enough in that time to suggest he will be in manager Peter Houston’s thoughts for the big one against Ross County at the national stadium on May 15.
“It is definitely great to be playing again and great that I am feeling pain-free,” said Robertson. “To be back training every day then get time out on the pitch. I am enjoying it again.
“It means I am back to my old self. It also felt a bit strange because it has been a long time since I have been involved like that.”
Robertson revealed that while be was told he should ponder packing it in for this campaign, he had different ideas.
“It was back at the start of March while I was down in England that I was told that,” he said. “The doctors said to me that it would be best just to leave it to give myself time to improve.
“I was never of that mindset, though. It was just that, given the way the season was going for the club and having not played my part except in the first couple of months, I really wanted to get back.
“I was then told that as long as everything was pain-free that I would be able to carry on. Obviously, I would not have come back had I been feeling pain but here I am training and playing.”
United still have two league fixtures left away to Hearts on Wednesday and at home to Hibs on Sunday but the cup is at the forefront of most minds at Tannadice. Robertson is no exception.
He said, “If you look at it like this, as well as the starting line-up, the manager will have four (outfield) subs at Hampden and they could be two strikers, one midfielder and a defender, as well as the goalkeeper.
“So there are places up for grabs and to be involved in the cup final would be outstanding for me after what has been the worst 18 months of my career because of injury.”Cadamarteri concernsWhile Robertson makes his case for involvement against the Staggies, there is a big question mark hanging over frontman Danny Cadamarteri, who suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder after just 10 minutes and was replaced by talented winger Ryan Dow.
Cadamarteri’s misfortune followed on from the hamstring injury suffered by Francisco Sandaza against Celtic the previous weekend that ruled the Spaniard out of the County clash, so the Tangerines will be hoping the bad news ends there.
“We have two games left and we will still be going into them wholeheartedly-there will be no slacking off,” added Robertson.
“You could see that the boys gave it their all against Rangers, even though we did not win the match. Injuries are a concern as you approach a cup final but we will just have to hope there aren’t any more between now and then.”
United lost the seemingly inevitable Kris Boyd goal after two minutes, then Nacho Novo made it 2-0 for the SPL champions four minutes before half-time.
Robertson played his part in a brighter second period for the Tangerines, who got one back via Damian Casalinuovo on 81 minutes. They could not produce an equaliser but there were still some positives for the home side.
Robertson’s run-out was complemented by an eye-catching debut from 18-year-old Dow, who lit up the left wing and earned himself warm applause from the United fans.
Craig Hill (18), an under-19 Northern Ireland international, came in for his first-team bow at centre-half and had the unenviable task of tracking Boyd.
After a nervy start, he settled into the game and, like Dow, looks to have a bright future at the club. Hill could not stop Boyd finally claiming his 100th Premier League goal for the Light Blues.
United gaffer Houston said the better team won and he has bigger fish to fry in the Scottish Cup.
“I think we learned a lot of things from the game,” he said. “I didn’t think we deserved anything out of it but I was pleased with our second-half performance.
“We can’t go any higher or lower in the league so my thoughts are building towards the cup final.”
United have sold out their lower tier allocation at Hampden for the cup final, taking ticket sales to the 25,600 mark. They are now shifting 1300 tickets for the South Stand upper tiers.