St Johnstone stopper Steven Anderson has targeted a return to the starting line-up after being told there is an end in sight to his injury hell.
The 27-year-old centre half has not played for the Perth club since September 28, when he dislocated a thumb falling awkwardly in the build-up to Partick Thistle’s opener in a league game.
While his team-mates battled back to earn a 1-1 draw, Anderson was rushed to hospital and needed a lengthy operation to repair the damage to his injured hand although he was warned to expect several weeks on the sidelines to aid his recovery.
More than two months on though, Ando has finally been given the go-ahead to return to training and could well be back in manager Tommy Wright’s first team plans in a mere matter of days.
“I had my knee injury last year and that was only six weeks out max, but this has been totally different,” he told Courier Sport.
“With my knee you know you are going to be back in six weeks but with this it has been a case of ‘it could be 12 weeks, it could be this, it could be that’. But you can only just go with what the consultant says.
“When it first happened I was expecting maybe two to three weeks out. Obviously because it was so complex the surgeon had to put me into theatre and he said it was a three-hour operation.
“I think he was being cautious as well, saying I would be out for at least three months, but I think he was thinking it was long-term rather than short-term.
“But it was good news this week and I’ve been given the go-ahead to start training properly now, so hopefully I can gradually get back into it and hopefully get back playing soon.
“I’ve been doing mainly passing drills and a lot of running as well up until now that’s all I could really do anyway.
“To be fair, the physios have got me fit so they’ve done their bit and got me back. I’m happy that it has healed up pretty well.
“The consultant asked me how it was going and how it was feeling, and told me to just gradually get back into it again and make sure I was using the splint just now to protect it.
“For the last three weeks I’ve been able to do things around the house.
“I’ve had to use my left hand and the fact I’m right-handed hasn’t helped, and the consultant said that everything goes through the thumb as well, so it’s been frustrating but it’s feeling much better now.”
It is fair to say that Anderson has been itching to get back playing in competitive games, although the performance of the defence in his absence means he will undoubtedly have a fight on his hands to return to the first 11.
“To be fair the guys have been excellent and it will be hard to get back in,” he admitted.
“I didn’t go to the Inverness game right enough so I can’t comment on what happened, but every game I’ve seen they’ve been excellent. Every game is big and you just want to get back playing.
“Obviously you see Fraz (Wright) not getting straight back in and it will be difficult to get back into the team when I get back. It’s just one of those things, it’s been frustrating but boys do well and keep their positions it’s as simple as that.
“We’ll see over the next few weeks how I get on and hopefully I can get an under 20 game in soon.”
Because of the nature of his injury, Anderson could be forgiven for being wary when he does return to action but his eagerness to get back playing far outweighs any fear he has.
He continued: “I’ve just got to make sure I strap the thumb up just but I’ve got to test it to make sure it is right. I need to fall on it or grab someone, something like that, to make sure there’s no reaction.
“It’s just frustrating. You probably could do it but it’s just that thing where if you slip or fall it might just go again.
“It should be set now and I think everything should be fine, and I know I could probably go back into full training straight away but it’s maybe better to wait.
“When you are just running and running it gets a bit monotonous, but it’s just been one of those things.
“In football you are always going to get a kick now and again or you are going to fall, and it doesn’t help being in my position as well. You tend to get a kick or fall a bit more in my position than in others.
“But that’s the way football is.”