Ross County midfielder Iain Vigurs feels he is making a fresh start in his career after recovering from two recent long-term injuries.
Vigurs was initially sidelined for almost six months last season due to a foot injury, but returned to play the final two games of the campaign.
The 31-year-old was forced to undergo surgery after suffering a recurrence of the problem in September however, with Vigurs making a goalscoring comeback from a three-month absence in a 1-1 draw with St Johnstone in December.
Vigurs admits the setbacks affected his confidence, but he insists it has made him all the more appreciative of his latest run in the Staggies’ side.
Vigurs said: “It feels like I haven’t played football in ages. I missed six months last season and three or four months this season.
“It actually feels like I’m starting my career again – it is crazy.
“Those periods are the longest I’ve been out with one injury so it is all about trying to get into the swing of things again, but it’s good to be back.
“When I came back from injury and into training, just before Christmas, I said to the manager that you don’t realise how much your confidence takes a hit when you’ve been out injured for so long.
“Just getting that back is key, but it down to the player, the person, to do that.
“I feel, slowly, my confidence is coming back with each game.”
Vigurs is among a number of players who has spent extensive time on the sidelines this term, with the Staggies without the likes of Ross Stewart, Michael Gardyne, Tom Grivosti and Joe Chalmers for tonight’s game against Livingston.
Aberdeen-born Vigurs feels the enforced lack of consistency in Stuart Kettlewell and Steven Ferguson’s selection has contributed to County’s eight-game winless run, which has left them just four points above bottom spot.
Vigurs added: “Through the whole season, they have never been able to rely on every player in the squad.
“It has been very unfortunate with the amount of players they’ve had injured.
“It has been a difficult couple of months for the club and everyone is doing their best to improve it.
“Confidence is massive in football and I think a lot of us have lost that over the last couple of months. Trying to get that back is key.”
Vigurs has been impressed by the form of tonight’s opponents Livi, who have won five matches on the bounce, with the former Caley Thistle player adding: “There aren’t many teams, outside Celtic and Rangers, that are able to string runs together.
“Livingston have done it, with five wins on the bounce – they’ve been absolutely unbelievable – so you can only congratulate them on doing such a great job.
“Outside of that, everyone is beating everyone – nobody really puts anything together. It is such a hard league, you just need to try to build some momentum.
“We can only start by winning against Livingston.”