Aberdeen 0 - 0 St Johnstone: Isaac Osbourne shows value of true grit in stalemate

A NUMBER of players made solid competitive debuts for their new clubs in Saturday's goalless encounter between Aberdeen and St Johnstone, but it is highly unlikely that any of them had shared the awful experiences faced by Isaac Osbourne, who was impressive in his first match for the home side.

A holding midfielder of the type who breaks up play and snaffles up loose balls - "second balls" as he called them - Osbourne put himself about as Aberdeen tried in vain to break down St Johnstone's stonewall defence.

It was a very assured display by the Birmingham-born 26-year-old who had recently stared into that footballing abyss called injury-enforced retirement.

"I've been out of the game so long I was just happy to be on the pitch and starting the season," said Osbourne, who injured his thigh back in November, 2009, and had to endure operations that included the removal of a piece of the femur bone. Osbourne explained: "I was told I would be back (playing] in three weeks, and then it was three months, and then after a while I was told it would be 50-50 whether I would play again.

"There was a time when I had to think about doing something other than football. I had an op and it didn't make any difference.

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"I knew there was insurance money but I knew that if I took the money I wouldn't have anything to do. I have a family so I really had to think what I was going to do."

Before he reached any conclusions, however, another operation led to progress and Osbourne is now fully fit having not missed a day of pre-season training.

He said: "I look back and count it as a bit of a blessing because before I didn't realise what I had, which was the great opportunity to play football day in and day out. So it's been an eye-opener for me and I don't want to miss the opportunity."

Having broken into the first team at Coventry City at the age of 16, Osbourne was twice voted the club's young player of the year, but the injury brought his stay at Coventry to an end.

Again the player was facing an uncertain future before club physio Michael McBride stepped in and called Archie Knox, assistant to Aberdeen manager Craig Brown. Judging by his performance on Saturday, if Osbourne stays fit, Aberdeen may well have found a very useful midfielder.

"I am not saying I am going to set the place alight, but I have got more to come in terms of sharpness," said the player.

A strong swirling wind played havoc at Pittodrie, where a couple of early long-range efforts by captain Ricky Foster, plus a decent cross-shot by the impressive Fraser Fyvie which came back off the post, were Aberdeen's best chances.

St Johnstone created few clear opportunities and failed to take advantage of Ryan Jack's deserved sending off - even manager Brown made no excuse after seeing the television replay - and in the end a draw was about the right result.

As you would expect, both managers thought their team deserved to win, while for St Johnstone, most of the after-match concerns were focused on Murray Davidson, the 23-year-old internationalist midfielder who again impressed on Saturday and who is a signing target for Rangers.

Having heard manager Derek McInnes laugh off Rangers' initial bid as "ridiculous", playing colleague Callum Davidson is hoping the former Livingston man will hang on a bit further at St Johnstone.

He said: "It's important that he moves to a club and a manager that wants him to play and be involved all the time. It will be a big move for him, whether it's this transfer window or next, and I'm hoping he stays until January."