Michael Fraser has painful memories of Celtic

MICHAEL Fraser has revealed he was suffering from a burst artery in his leg as he suffered two horror mistakes against Celtic, who visit Dingwall again on Sunday.

The Ross County goalkeeper’s agony turned to ecstasy as his team stormed back to beat the champions 3-2 in the last meeting in Dingwall. Fraser’s saves later in the victory played a part, and what might have been a day to forget against Celtic turned into a proud memory for the former Inverness and Motherwell ’keeper.

Fraser held his hands up to the blunders, and admits he has learned from the experience. But he insists there was more to it all than met the eye.

Despite Charlie Mulgrew and Gary Hooper’s gifted first-half goals, County stormed back on 9 March, with Grant Munro and Sam Morrow levelling by the break. Steffen Wohlfarth then clinched victory in stoppage time.

Fraser would have been automatically ruled unfit for the clash with injury were it not for Mark Brown’s broken hand.

The keeper revealed: “It was a difficult first half for me. The week before, we played Inverness and I burst a small artery in my shin. I did not train all week. I am not looking for excuses, but with Mark Brown being injured it was only really me there and the young lads.

“On Monday and Tuesday, my shin was huge and the doctor was not sure what I had done to it. I did not train all that week and then trained on the Friday.

“With hindsight maybe I was a bit rusty, I had only played one game back in the team, and it was difficult. But it was still a win against Celtic. When that happens you take your own time to reflect on how you played. I was disappointed with how I lost two bad goals, but credit to the players.

“I would take a horrible first half like that again if we got the win on Sunday.”