Ross County captain Paul Quinn reckons the Premiership’s winter break has come at the wrong time for him.
The defender is nearing full fitness following a hamstring injury, but has been left kicking his heels as his team-mates take a break from football following the 3-2 Highland derby win against Caley Thistle on Saturday.
The Staggies are sixth in the table, having ended 2017 with two wins from their final four games.
Quinn recently returned from a six-week injury absence and the 31-year-old reckons the shutdown has come at a time when he is starting to get back to full fitness.
He said: “I’m getting there. I’m close to where I should be.
“I’m probably the only player to say this in the entire league, but I think the break has come at the wrong time for me, just as I was edging closer to full match fitness.
“It has been frustrating, but I’m just glad I’m back in among training with the rest of the squad.
“Maybe that’s why I’m not beating myself up so much – because I know what it is like to sit on the sidelines.
“I feel fitter and sharper which, arguably, for the full season I haven’t been yet.
“So I’ve got another positive to look forward to.
“I’m just a bit disappointed the break has come just as, hopefully, I’m back in my best shape.”
Former Aberdeen player Quinn had been prepared to play through the pain earlier in the campaign, but is pleased he took the decision to rest his injury at the start of November.
The former Motherwell player concedes he has been at less than 100% for much of the campaign.
He has been able to play matches but training has been affected by a myriad of injury problems, none of which have been serious, but have been enough to affect his preparations.
He added: “I had a lot of problems.
“I could still play to a level of consistency without it affecting me which came from the physio getting me on to the pitch and from the manager and club’s trust in me when I was not 100%.
“The time came where it was just too much and we had to address it.
“It has been a good decision, but frustrating to be out.
“The players can take a break, recuperate and then hopefully get more points on the board.
“Now I’m back, I have that extra bit of hunger to get results.
“We are going to have good days, bad days and indifferent ones. It’s all about how we react.”