Steven Bell has revealed that he is so close to making a comeback from a devastating achilles injury, he can no longer bear to go to Pars games.
The last two matches have been painful viewing for the club’s fans with the SPL newcomers slumping to heavy defeats to Rangers and Aberdeen.
However, Bell hasn’t been in the stands watching as his frustration levels have reached breaking point after a near year-long rehabilitation from the injury he initially suffered against Morton last November.
He said: “I had been to all the matches before the Rangers and Aberdeen ones but it is just too difficult to watch now as I am so close to coming back.
“It is incredibly frustrating, especially as the boys are struggling a bit at the moment. You just want to be back on the pitch helping them.
“I am itching to play in the SPL, especially against the Old Firm.
“We haven’t played Celtic yet and that will be a killer for me to miss as they are the team I have always supported. I used to think that playing in the SPL was the be all and end all but when you get a bad injury like this, you realise it is just playing which is important.
“If somebody was to say to me that I would come back and play but may never reach that level…I would take that before seeing my achilles go again.
“After all, it is my career and I have family to look after as well. So it goes beyond just playing in the SPL.”
Bell’s apprehension is understandable as his hopes of a comeback were cruelly dashed previously in April when everything appeared to be on track.
However, he has now returned to light running after a visit to see his specialist last week and the outlook is bright once more.
He added: “My injury happened when I challenged for a header while we were playing Morton and it just went. I felt like somebody had shot me or an opposition player had given me a big kick.
“I have since discovered that these things build up over a period of time and thinking back, I had been feeling my achilles for a few weeks before that.
“Our former physio Gerry Docherty picked up a protocol from the Portsmouth physio who had treated Hermann Hreidarsonn for a similar injury.
“We followed those lines but it was still sore. Eventually, we had it scanned and we discovered that it had a tear in it. We still don’t know how it happened but it was a big setback.
“Last Monday I went down to London for an injection to try to break down some scar tissue from my first injury and I have now started running again.
“It is still sore and I haven’t set myself any targets as if I don’t reach them, then I get down about it. But my achilles is in great condition – the surgeon was really happy with it.”