STAGGIES SOLVED MY MYSTERY
BILLY MCKAY has revealed it took Ross County’s medical team just an hour to diagnose the “baffling” groin problem that plagued him for 18 months.
The former Wigan striker’s condition troubled him during loan spells at Dundee United and Inverness but was quickly identified during his Dingwall medical.
And Mckay, who has signed a two-year deal, now hopes to be back fighting fit within two or three weeks.
The hitman was deadly in games against County, netting 10 times for Caley Thistle and United.
But he said: “Hopefully I can do it for them now and get back to where I was.
“Someone was saying all the goals at Victoria Park were at one side of the ground so hopefully I can get a few at the other end too.
“The move to County was ongoing for a month as I’ve had a groin problem and it was all about getting that to a point where we knew how to get it fixed.
“I came up and within an hour of my medical they knew what the problem was, had me booked in for treatment and got it sorted.
“From then on, as long as everything went OK, it was agreed I would sign.
“The injury has been ongoing for 18 months. I’ve been at clubs where no one picked up on what it was.
“But I’ve had the op now and I could be back running as early as next week.
“Hopefully it allows me to get back to my best. I was training maybe once a week and then playing, never feeling my best.
“The last 18 months have been frustrating. I couldn’t be at my best.
“It’s hard training once a week and playing through tablets. Hopefully that’s all behind me now and I can get back to scoring goals.”
Mckay admits he has already taken flak from Inverness fans dismayed to see their old hero landing up across the Kessock Bridge.
He said: “I’m sure I would have got some abuse if there was a derby this season. I already have got a little bit.
“It was disappointing going down with Inverness last season and I hope they get back up so there is a derby next term.
“It wasn’t too much stick and it didn’t bother me. It shows they obviously cared about me and it’s expected.”
The Northern Ireland international also got pelters from his old team-mates and said: “Iain Vigurs was straight on the phone giving me abuse – but he’s made the move twice!
“I’ve met up with a few old team-mates for lunch and got a few funny messages.
“My wife and kids know the area – they have friends here. It will be easy that way.”
Meanwhile, County have released former Scotland defender Jay McEveley. AIDAN CONNOLLY saw first and second hand Andy Robertson’s rags-to-riches story from Celtic reject to Liverpool’s £10million man.
It was a tale of clapped-out bangers, discount vouchers and questionable dress sense during their days together as teenagers at Queen’s Park.
And as Scotland full-back Robertson savours the high life on tour with the Reds in Germany, Connolly insists his old Spiders and Dundee United team-mate is living the dream they used to share as travelling companions in Scotland’s bottom tier.
He said: “Andy’s story is an incredible one. It wasn’t that long ago we’d be travelling to Queen’s Park games in his old, battered car.
“I think it was a Punto but whatever it was it had seen better days. He used to pick me up and we’d talk about things as we travelled together.
“It was always the dream to one day play at the highest level.
“He’s a brilliant lad. When I first saw him play at Queen’s Park it was clear he would eventually go on to bigger and better things – everyone could see that.
“It has been Dundee United then Hull and now Liverpool all in the space of a few years.
“It’s not a shock but you can never expect a move to somewhere like Anfield when you’re at Queen’s Park.
“He was young and promising back then but now he’s a superstar.
“The scary thing is Andy was giving football one last year after being released by Celtic. He would have looked for a career elsewhere had it not worked out.
“Football is a lot about ability and hard work but it’s also a bit about luck.
“Andy deserves everything he gets. I sent him a text message the other day and he hasn’t forgotten the big part his family have played in his career.
“His mum Paula and dad Brian are really down to earth and are such nice people. That shines through in Andy as well.”
Connolly and Robertson moved to Tannadice in the summer of 2013 and have experienced different twists of fate with the striker now in his second season with National League side York.
But the 21-year-old enjoyed a recent reunion with Robertson in
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