St Johnstone’s new loan signing Joe Gormley was making a big name for himself before a year was wiped out through injury.
And now the Northern Irishman is ready to prove his ability all over again.
“It has been the toughest year of my life,” said the 26-year-old, who suffered serious knee damage at the start of last season. “It came hard on the heels of great seasons at Cliftonville.
“I was so low after the surgery a year ago but I have worked hard to get to where I am now and everything is positive.
“Hopefully I can repay the manager for showing faith in me by scoring goals for St Johnstone.
“I was on a high when I got the move to Peterborough. It was the chance I wanted to play full-time football. But then I picked up a bad injury.
“After being out so long it’s all about getting the head down, working hard and seeing where it takes me.
“I have more drive than ever after being out so long. Family and friends back home have supported me and I want to repay them and the people at Peterborough.
“I had played a few friendlies and scored five goals and picked up man of the match awards against Spurs and West Ham. It was going so well before the injury.
“I had two great seasons at Cliftonville, breaking records with 37 goals then 41. That’s what I want to get back to.”
Gormley, who has signed a short-term deal through to January, isn’t expecting special treatment from long-time admirer Tommy Wright.
“It’s good that he comes from Northern Ireland but that won’t help me get in the team,” he said. “That’s down to me. But I know I can play at this level.
“I have been training and trying to break into the Peterborough team. I’ve played reserve games and I will be ready to go into the squad here for the game against Partick Thistle after the international break.”
One match to look out for will be Saints against Ross County, when Gormley will be coming up against an old friend.
“I am really good friends with Liam Boyce,” he explained. “I spoke to him about the move.
“Liam has been doing really well in Scotland so it would be good to follow in his footsteps.
“He is already talking about us playing against each other. I am used to being in the same side and he set-up loads of my goals at Cliftonville. He probably claims he got me my move!
“Of the 37 goals I got in the last season when we played together he probably created the majority of them. I love playing with creative players like Liam and I’m sure there will be guys here I can strike up an understanding with.”
A fourth striker is the last piece of the jigsaw for Wright after already bringing in Keith Watson, Michael Coulson, Paul Paton, Blair Alston and Richard Foster.
Released defender Brad McKay has signed a two year deal with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Wright said: “I’m delighted to get a striker in. Joe is a player I’ve known from his time at Cliftonville and we were interested in him back then but he went to Peterborough.
“He’s coming back off a significant injury but he’s fully fit and trained with us this morning.
“If you look at his career stats in the Irish League he’s scored a lot of goals and he’s also former team-mate of Liam Boyce who has done well in the Premiership. They are different types of players but Joe has the potential to do well.”
