I’ll be back even better than before, says Steven Naismith
Steven Naismith says hes dying to get back following his injury at Pittodrie in October
Steven Naismith is determined to return from injury even better than before but admits he does not know whether his comeback will be before the end of the season.
The 25-year-old was ruled out for the rest of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League campaign after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in a tackle with Rob Milsom during a 2-1 win against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on 29 October.
Rangers manager Ally McCoist revealed on Friday that the forward had been given the all clear by his surgeon last week but Naismith is unsure whether he will return to action ahead of the final game at St Johnstone on 13 May.
He said: “Things have gone well and I’ve upped my training now so that I’m doing the majority of things.
“I’ve not done a lot of contact stuff with the physios or the other boys who are coming back from injuries as that’s the next stage.
“I’m hopeful I’ll be back training normally before the end of the season but we’ll need to wait and see if I get game time or not. From a professional point of view, it’s probably safer to wait until next season but I’ve missed it for so long and I’m dying to get back on the park again.
“You never know but the physios will have the final say. So far it has been great but we’ve a bit to go yet.”
Naismith suffered a similar injury to his other knee in 2008, which kept him out of action for eight months.
And, having successfully overcome that setback, he sees no reason why he cannot return stronger from this latest injury.
He added: “I’m going to work hard to get back to where I was and I’m hopeful I can score more goals and take more of the chances I get.”
The former Kilmarnock attacker had been having a stellar season before his injury with nine goals in 11 league games.
He also scored the winner for Scotland against Lithuania in a 1-0 victory in European Championship qualifying at Hampden Park in September.
Naismith added: “I want to come back as a better player than I was. That was the case after my first operation and it’s no different this time.
“I certainly think I’ll be coming back properly at a good time in pre-season.
“I’ll be fairly fit, perhaps even at a better level than everyone else as they won’t be match fit.
“There is still work to be done and I’ll be looking to get my sharpness back because with these kinds of injury, you need to put a lot into it. When I return, I’ll probably stay back and do more extra sessions because the key for me now is kicking on again.”
Meanwhile, Rangers supporters will be able to view their team’s home kit for next season when the club unveil the new strip on RangersTV on their official website at 11am.
A club statement promised last night: “Fans all over the world are going to love the new strip which has the very essence of the club at its heart and will undoubtedly be a massive seller.
“We don’t want to give away anything right now, but safe to say the great traditions of this fantastic club have been adhered to.”
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Wednesday 19 June 2013
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