St Johnstone striker Steven MacLean says he is fit and ready to complete a remarkable comeback from knee surgery by leading the line in today’s Tayside derby.
The 32-year-old probably felt at his lowest point in September as he faced the prospect of six months on the sidelines this after missing four months of the previous season with a similar injury.
But MacLean has made an incredible recovery ahead of schedule and insists he can slot straight into the role vacated by the absent Brian Graham.
“I want to play against Dundee United, I’m ready,” he maintained.
“The physio and the manager will probably get their heads together and make the decision.
“But from my point of view, I’m back training and I want to play.
“I’ve told the gaffer I won’t lie to him you can’t do that anyway because he sees on the training pitch.
“He’s been watching me, he knows. And he’ll see if I’m struggling.
“But from day one after the operation I’ve felt like my knee was fixed again.
“When I got injured again it was a big worry.
“There was some talk it might have been just a tidy up I needed but deep down I knew it would be more than that.
“I know what the drill is with injuries because I’ve had a few.
“I’m all or nothing, I don’t get ones that keep you out for a week or two.
“I’ve never had one of those in my life. If I’m injured it’s hospital and operations, I seem to go the full hog with it.
“But touch wood, this one has been easier to come back from than last time.
“I’ve known what I’ve had to do and the physio sorting out the running machine has really helped.
“I am about six weeks ahead of where I thought I’d be.
“The treadmill at Shawfair Hospital has been a massive help and the physio has been brilliant with me.
“It gave me about 200 minutes of running I wouldn’t have got, and then I’ve been able to do other stuff off the back of that.
“So I’m feeling fit and ready to go if the manager picks me.”
When MacLean returned from his injury lay-off last season, he made an instant impression by scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Motherwell.
So needless to say he would love things to pan out the same against Dundee United in Perth this afternoon.
“That was probably a one-off, but it strengthens my case!” he joked.
“It would be nice to come back and have an impact in your first match back.
“It’s what keeps you going when you’re out.
“The two goals against Motherwell last season were special because I’d dreamed about coming back and hitting the ground running again.
“I was buzzing that day and I’d love the chance to give it another shot this weekend.
“The boys are flying so it would be a great time to come back in the side.
“They have been doing brilliantly after having a blip a few months ago.
“So it won’t be easy to get back in the team, that’s for sure.”
MacLean capped his triumphant return to the side last season with a goal in Saints’ Scottish Cup final success, and the striker admitted he was delighted to see his team-mates keep the dream of repeating the feat alive in his absence.
He added: “I told the boys they’d better win the cup game so we’re still in it for me coming back.
“They’ve done that and who knows, it could be like last season all over again?
“If you’d offered me the five months I got last season I would have bitten your hand off.
“So hopefully we can do it again, but it won’t be easy to defend it.
“Queen of the South are a really good young team and going there on astroturf will be really tough.
“But that’s a while away yet and right now all we’re focused on is the league and playing Dundee United this weekend.
“They got a great result against Celtic at the weekend but we’re in good form as well.
“Hopefully that means a big crowd will turn out from both teams and it will be a good occasion.”
James McFadden should also be in contention for a start after recovering from the hamstring injury he suffered against Kilmarnock, while Gary Miller similarly returned to training this week.