After two-and-a-half years out of the game with an achilles injury Keith’s Neil Robertson made his return to action when he came off the bench during last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Cove.
The 29-year-old former Lossiemouth midfielder signed for Keith in 2001 but had not played since the League Cup final when the Maroons beat Buckie Thistle 5-0 on May 5, 2007.
He was told his football career was over after undergoing the first operation on his heel the following February.
Robertson, who works as a cost-engineer with oil company PSN in Dyce, said: “I had probably been carrying the injury for a couple of seasons, it was always worst during pre-season training when the grounds were hard. But it seemed to ease off when the playing surfaces became heavier during the winter.
“I had my first operation in February 2008, but during the first training session in the pre-season build-up a few months later my achilles snapped again. I had been having injections, but they hadn't helped at all.
“The surgeons told me perhaps I shouldn’t have had them, but at the time they did help to get me through the previous season.
“I had my second operation in July 2008, the surgeon said then it could take me up to 18 months to get back and he was proved right. I have been taking my time and not rushing things and I have also done quite a bit with Ian Stott, an Aberdeen-based physio who helped former Don Richie Byrne get fit.”
Robertson’s time has come and he said: “It was a great feeling to be back playing, although I realise it was only the first step on the long road back to playing regularly.
“I know I still have an awful lot to work to do, but it is definitely a step in the right direction and I hope to get quite a few more under-21 games under my belt.
“I was devastated when it first happened, especially when the surgeon told me my football career was over.
“Thankfully I have been able to prove him wrong.
“As recently as Christmas after a bad night at training I also considered calling it a day as I was in agony, but something kept me going.”