The day Murray Davidson takes himself off to a hairdressers will be one for all St Johnstone supporters to savour.
Not because they’ve taken great offence at the midfielder’s untamed look. But because it will mean Davidson’s injury ordeal is finally behind him.
Eight months ago the former Livingston man tore the patellar tendon in his knee after landing awkwardly in a game against Hearts.
And at some point along the road to recovery he took the decision to let his hair grow until he made his comeback. It would appear that day is fast approaching.
Davidson has played in closed-doors and under-20 games (the most recent of which was last night at Hamilton) and was listed as an unused substitute in the derby against Dundee at the weekend.
All that now remains is for him to get on the pitch for the first team.
“I first said that I wouldn’t get my hair cut until I got myself fit again, but I didn’t get it cut in the end,” he recalled. “It’s just kind of escalated.
“I’ve been playing under-20 games and I had to get the physio to cut my fringe at half-time in one of them because it was in my eyes.
“The gaffer’s not letting me wear a head-band so it’s all over the place.
“Gareth Bale doesn’t seem to have these problems. When you’re at Real Madrid you can do what you want I suppose.”
There have been many hurdles, both physical and psychological, to overcome over the last few months Davidson revealed.
He explained: “The first goal was to get back walking, then it was leg raises, squats and jogging. It’s been step by step and that was another one on Saturday.
“Scobbs (Tam Scobbie) and Macca (Steven MacLean) have got injured so we’re down to the bare bones. Getting on the bench was a massive boost for me, and I’m desperate to get involved. I feel I’m ready to start now.
“The physio thinks I should have four full games 360 minutes before I come back. I think I’m about 80 minutes short. Hopefully after Hamilton I’ll be pushing for a start.”
He added: “The last month to six weeks has been the hardest because I feel like I’m there, but I’m not actually, if that makes any sense. I played my first 45 back in second gear, and the knee felt good.
“I was sort of protecting it. The next match was against Aberdeen. They had a good squad with boys like Barry Robson, and I upped it against them.
“Then Falkirk last week was the best I felt. The manager has said he noticed a difference in that one, and in training since, and he’s probably right.
“In all the games the knee has felt really good but a lot of it is about having the confidence in it.
“Tackling’s fine. I’ve never been one to pull out of a tackle and that hasn’t changed. That’s not the worry.
“It’s the springing off the leg, which was how I got the injury. The last couple of weeks have been about single leg hopping.
“It’s been hard to get the mix between my full training and the gym work. I think we’ve got that right in the last couple of weeks and I feel a lot better in my mind about it now.”
Of course, nobody is better placed to empathise with Scobbie (and possibly MacLean) than Davidson.
Scobbie is out for at least three months, while Maclean was finding out last night whether his lay-off will be even longer, or just a few weeks.
“There’s nothing worse,” Davidson pointed out.
“You knew with Macca when he put his hand up in training it would be something serious.
“Scobbs got a tackle and he’s the same. If he stays down there’s something wrong. You could tell it would be his medial because the knee opened up.
“Me and him rehabbed in the summer together, so I feel for him. He’s been one of our better players at the start of the season.
“It’s a big blow for him. I know how hard I’ve worked to get back, so for these boys to get back from long-term injuries and have to go through it again will be tough.
“Hopefully for Macca though, it will just be three or four weeks.”