Caley Thistle midfielder Aaron Doran heard talk he was finished as a footballer but never once doubted he would be back.
The talented Irishman shed the pounds in the summer as he shook off the last remnants of a knee problem suffered after July 2015’s Europa League matches against Romanians Astra Giurgiu.
Now the aim is to lose the substitute’s tag that has been his for eight games since making his comeback from the bench in August.
As he showed from the bench in Saturday’s 1-1 Premiership draw against Kilmarnock, the 25-year-old former Blackburn Rovers youth player is keener than ever to play his part in Inverness manager Richie Foran’s plans.
Doran said: “I still need to be sharper and quicker in my decision-making but I was desperate to make a difference when I came on and managed to get a few shots off.
“It’s difficult when I haven’t been starting games to have the pace because this is a quick league. I had a few chances and maybe could have influenced the game more.
“I was on for 35 minutes and I’m pushing to start. It’s frustrating because I don’t like being a substitute. But I feel leaner and fitter. Before the injury I was probably a bit heavier. I’ve lost a bit of weight by not doing weights in the gym any more.
“I feel good and I think I’ve looked good in training, so I’ll keep pushing to get into the manager’s plans to start.”
After the injury Doran has a renewed sense of how precious his playing career is and how he must make the most of it.
He said: “I’ve really missed football in the last year. I hated coming to watch matches because I missed it that much. Now I go out and enjoy training and try to have fun every day. I want to start now because I’m sick of being on the bench. But if that’s the manager’s plans for me I’ll come on and try to impact the game.
“After the injury I appreciate the game more. When I went to London in August 2015 I was told I could be out for 12 to 14 months.
“I was in shock and a lot of things were going through my head. But I worked hard during the injury and, thankfully, I’m back and feel good. I’ve not had any repercussions. I saw comments that I probably wouldn’t play again but I never thought that for a minute. That was never the case.
“I knew I was always going to come back. I have come back strong and I feel I haven’t lost anything.”
