Andy McCarthy is desperate to return to the Peterhead first-team and aid their battle at the bottom of League One.
Midfielder McCarthy has been absent since injuring an ankle in the pre-season game against Dundee in July.
The initial hope had been that he would be able to return in eight weeks but it is now approaching four months since he last took to the field.
McCarthy has stepped up his training in recent weeks but a decision is still to be made on whether he will be fit enough to face FC Edinburgh tomorrow.
It has been for the former Partick Thistle man to watch on during Peterhead’s struggles and he aims to be back sooner rather than later to help.
“I’m dying to get back playing,” he said. “It’s all you think about when you’re out. Getting back fit again is the hard part and I’m closer than I have been to being back.
“You need to work as hard as you can away from training to get yourself fit, which is something I don’t mind doing. I expect it’ll be hard to get back to where I was last season but you want the best for yourself.
“At the start, I thought it was going to be four-to-eight weeks but it’s been a right struggle. It’s been setback after setback but that’s part and parcel of football.
“It’s been a nightmare to be honest. I’ve tried a few times to get back earlier than I have, especially when you’re watching the boys go through a tough spell.
“My ankle is feeling stronger. I’ve been seeing the physio twice a week and the club have been brilliant with that. It’s a brilliant club to be at when you need help like that.
“I appreciate what they’ve done for me – they’ve always checked up on me when I’ve been injured. It’s probably the best club I’ve been at for looking after players, by a country mile.”
McCarthy was a mainstay of the side last season and he signed a new deal with Peterhead in the summer.
But instead of being able to kick on, he has been a frustrated onlooker as the Blue Toon have sunk to the bottom of the third tier.
“I’m pally with all the boys so when you see them go through a bit of a struggle, you feel helpless in a sense because there’s nothing you can do,” he added.
“I struggle to watch football because I just want to be out there playing. But hopefully, that comes soon.”
Peterhead have only won one win to their name this season and played tomorrow’s opponents earlier this month, losing a midweek game in the capital 2-0.
“The players will admit themselves they’ve probably not played as well as they can,” said McCarthy. “You can’t fault them for effort, it’s just certain things in games we need to do better.
“The gaffer is the first to say that to anyone. All you can ask of people is to give their all.”
