Gary Kenneth: Cruciate injury won’t beat me

The former Dundee United defender suffered a horror cruciate knee injury in last weekend’s game for Bristol Rovers against Gillingham, so won’t kick another ball for the English League Two outfit this season. Kenneth, who faces surgery on Friday, has pledged to win his fight to  regain full fitness by banishing any negative thoughts.

Kenneth said: “I’m gutted. It’s the worst possible start to the New Year I could have imagined, but what’s done is done so I just have to take it on the chin and be a as positive as possible.

“It’s going to be a long road back and this will be the  longest I’ve ever been out with an injury but there’s no point getting too disheartened because I have to make sure I’m mentally strong, as that will be the key to getting back.”

Rovers skipper Kenneth tried valiantly to play on through the pain barrier after the freak first-half incident, but admits he had to accept defeat. He added: “It was one of those things when I just turned to try to block their player’s shot inside the box. As soon as I turned, I just felt the knee go and knew I was in trouble. I did try to play on for a couple of minutes after that but I had to go off before half-time.

“Whenever I tried to run it off it just felt as though my leg was dragging a huge weight. There was no way I could carry on.”

Kenneth had become a key player for new manager John Ward’s plans, only for his sickening injury to strike. The ex-United player, who was signed by former Bristol boss Mark McGhee, has been hoping top started afresh in 2013.

He said: “It has all been looking good again until the injury. The new gaffer came in and I was feeling fit and really just raring to go and help the lads in the second half of the season.

“Now this has happened and my plans have been scrapped. I’m back to square one but this won’t beat me.”