It was hardly the easiest game for a comeback but Caley Jags midfielder James Vincent is overjoyed at timing to perfection his return from injury.
The 24-year-old’s first start since last September was full of drama and passion but he played a pivotal role as nine-man Inverness defeated Hearts to reach the League Cup final.
The long road to recovery from a knee injury is over and the Glossop-born midfielder wants to cement his place in John Hughes’s team as Inverness go in search of another cup-final place.
From the epic high of winning on penalties at Easter Road, a marathon journey to League 1 Stranraer has followed and Vincent is determined to prevent a Scottish Cup shock at Stair Park today.
He said: “Circumstances dictated I played the full game against Hearts.
“I knew it was going to be a really fast-tempo game. Cup games always are and Hearts were as up for it as we were.
“I am glad I got 90 minutes in the bank.
“It is only going to put me in good stead for the next couple of weeks.
“It is always frustrating to get injured. The rehabilitation was a slow process but I did not have any problems.
“I spoke to the club physiotherapist and specialists and in some respects I was very lucky to not have damaged anything in my knee.
“You can’t sit and look back at what happened. I have to look forward now and get back to the way I was playing early in the season.”
Vincent, who featured as a second-half substitute in Caley Thistle’s 1-0 win at Aberdeen on January 18 before playing against Hearts on Sunday, added: “We have all said we have to put the Hearts game out of our minds. It was brilliant while it lasted and we will always have the memories, but we have to focus on the next game now.
“Our preparation has been top notch and we won’t have any excuses in that department.
“Stranraer are a good side and we are not going into it thinking we are favourites.
“We have to put in the hard work to earn the right to play.
“When we get our foot in the game we hope our football will see us through.
“We are all ready to go out and get the win.”