Peterhead midfielder Hamish Ritchie has set his sights on returning next season from his cruciate ligament injury.
Ritchie had his operation in September and has been given a nine-to-12-month time frame for his return.
He sustained the injury in the League Cup game against Aberdeen and has been a frustrated onlooker during the Blue Toon’s struggles.
Ritchie penned a new one-year contract earlier this week, giving him peace of mind for the summer as he looks to work his way back to full fitness.
“With the way it’s worked out, doing it in the first game of the season, nine months would take us into May and that might be a bit too soon,” he said.
“It also let me get my head round not playing for one season, rather than it overlapping two seasons and them both being affected.
“The biggest thing has been feeling helpless on the football side of things. It just shows you how fast things can change.
“Having the contract sorted means I can focus on getting back and not rushing things. It gives me peace of mind for next season.”
‘Peterhead took a chance on me’
Ritchie is grateful for the support shown to him by Peterhead following his injury.
He was brought to the club by manager Jim McInally at the start of last year and had been a regular in the side prior to his injury.
“When I came back from America, I signed to play in the Highland League and was a bit of an unknown,” he added. “Peterhead took a chance on me.
“In the first training session we were shaping up and I thought there was no way the gaffer trusted me enough after one session to put me in. But he did and I’ve never really looked back.
“The club have been brilliant, from the players to the management team. Libby from Back Onside has been a massive help, too, and has been checking in on me.
“It’s one of the difficult things being out injured as you don’t feel part of it when you’re not playing at the weekend. But I’ve been trying to stay involved and everyone has been brilliant with me.”
Peterhead are bottom of League One with one win in 14 games.
Watching on from the sidelines has been difficult for Ritchie, as his team-mates strive to dig the Blue Toon out of a hole.
“When you’re watching from the stands there’s nothing you can do,” said Ritchie. “You just want to be out there and change the momentum of the game.
“We’ve been really unlucky with injuries. You couldn’t write it.
“Russell (McLean) and Andy McCarthy are massive players for them and we will notice a big difference when they are back.”
Interested in what goes on behind the scenes at Peterhead? Click here to find out more about the club’s partnership with mental health charity Back Onside.
Conversation