Jason Naismith thanks Hibs and vows to come back stronger from second serious knee injury

COMBINING a serious knee injury with a global pandemic is far from an ideal situation for any footballer to be in.

However, Jason Naismith is feeling positive about his recovery and even credits lockdown with helping him stay on track. That and the support of Hibs.

His temporary employers – or soon to be permanent if Naismith gets his way – have supported him through his rehabilitation after his season-long loan move from Peterborough United was brought to an abrupt and cruel end at Tannadice in January.

It was the second time the 25-year-old right-back had suffered a cruciate ligament injury – he ruptured the opposite knee while at St Mirren in 2015 – so he was only too aware of the long and gruelling road back to fitness.

But thanks to the support of Hibs – and his own personal motivation – he can now see light at the end of the tunnel.

"It's been all good," he reflected. "I'm back running now so I've taken that next step, which has been a boost the last couple of weeks. I'm progressing well with no set backs so far - touch wood - so it's been alright.

"I did it before, and that's stood me in good stead for the challenges that were lying ahead. It's always hard but I've had great backing from the people around me, and those at Hibs as well.

"Alix Ronaldson, the Hibs physio, has spent a lot of time with me and I've got a lot to thank her for, the amount of time she's taken out to help me.

"I've just been building up my fitness day-by-day. The first couple of runs as you would expect after four months was gruelling, but it's good to see your body evolve and get used to it. You progress on and your times are getting better for your runs.

"It's been good to see the improvements right throughout my rehab, not just running, but weights-wise and stuff, just progressing. My knee is getting better and I'm feeling strong."

The desire to come back stronger like he did before has been fuel for Naismith throughout his recovery, and he has not let the restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus crisis keep him down.

"The lockdown in a sense has helped me. I can still get up and do my routine so coronavirus hasn't really halted my progress at all," he said.

"Some days are harder than others to get yourself motivated, but I've been through it before, and I count myself lucky in that sense that I can motivate myself to do stuff. I can find that within and maybe that's because I've had the experience before and I know what it's like.

"The rewards as well once you get out the other side, it's a satisfying feeling once you can get back from what is basically a career-ending injury. You're proud of yourself when you get back from those moments so hopefully I've got that to come as well.

"You can come back stronger. People can think you might not come back the same player, but you're definitely a stronger person for it, and that makes you a better player.

"Physically, it's the best my legs have ever felt. That's great testament to the rehab I've been given to do. It's probably the strongest I've ever felt to be honest."

Naismith's treatment by Hibs throughout both his injury and the coronavirus crisis has only strengthened his desire to return to the club on a permanent basis. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but while he is no longer part of the plans at Peterborough, he at least has the security of another year left on his contract at the English League One side.

"I've not heard from them to be honest," he said. "I've heard more from Jack Ross, which is testament to Hibs and the way they've dealt with it all has been brilliant.

"They're a great club and under Jack I see them challenging up the top end of the league. Even the chairman's views, what he puts across, and Graeme (Mathie) and Leeann (Dempster), from top to bottom they're an excellently run club and I can definitely see them challenging for trophies in the years to come."

Naismith admits that the ideal scenario, "being selfish", would involve a return to Easter Road and for the new season to resume in September to coincide with when he expects to be ready for a return to first team action.

It would also leave the defender open to becoming the first player in history to rupture a cruciate ligament in a Scottish Cup quarter-final but be fit in time to play the semi, with the SFA committed to completing the tournament, possibly in 2021.

"It would be some recovery if I ended up back at Hibs and can play in the semi-final," he said. "It's probably been easier this rehab because I've not had games going on whilst being injured. I've not been missing anything and not been getting down, so that's probably helped me a bit mentally.

"When the draw was made, an Edinburgh derby semi-final, it's a game you'd be dying to play in at Hampden. To get the opportunity to do that would be unbelievable."