Ross County forward Craig Curran has revealed the extent of the serious concussion he suffered which has left him feeling exhausted for several weeks.
Curran suffered concussion in the 4-0 victory against Kilmarnock in August and, although he returned to play in the 2-1 win against Dundee United the following week, the Englishman was left on the sidelines for more than a month thereafter, having suffered periods of dizziness and long spells of tiredness.
Although the 26-year-old made his comeback as a substitute in the Staggies’ 2-0 win against Aberdeen last month, Curran says his process of full recovery is still ongoing.
He said: “I’m just starting to get there. I’ve had a rough time with it and it has dragged on. I’ve dealt with more and bounced back before, so I’m sure I’ll be able to do it again.
“To start with, I was getting dizziness and headaches, a combination of a lot of things. After that, the fatigue came.
“I was wiped out. I was sleeping sometimes 15, 20-hour days. I’m the opposite of that – I’m usually full of beans. It just wiped me out and I’m only starting to get back to normal again. The bad days are getting less frequent.
“I don’t think doctors fully understand why it happens to some and not to others but, hopefully, that’s me over the worst of it.
“I wouldn’t say it’s worrying, it’s more frustrating. I worked hard in the summer to get myself in shape and I was looking to crack on. I’ll be looking to build on where I’ve started and getting sharper as the weeks go on.”
Curran says his own injury has increased his awareness of the dangers of concussion in sport. The former Tranmere Rovers and Carlisle United attacker added: “I’ve never really taken notice of it before, I’ve had that many bangs on the head that I’ve got up and been fine a day later.
“For it to wipe me out like that was a bit surprising. I fractured my eye in the same place a year ago and it’s maybe been a bad blow too many in the same area.
“It seems to be everywhere at the minute – on the TV, on the news. They’re stopping kids heading the ball in America because it’s that bad, so it has opened my eyes to it.
“But it’s just one of those things that I’ve got to get on with and I’m hoping I’m over the worst of it.”