IFOUGHTPAIN LIKEKT–BUT I’DGOFOR25p
SCOTT MARTIN joked he may not command Kieran Tierney cash but he’s determined to prove his worth to Hamilton after shaking off similar pelvis problems to the ex-Celt.
The Accies ace is fighting fit again after playing through the pain barrier for much of last season.
Tierney was the same before his mega-money move to Arsenal but Martin is determined to start repaying Hamilton’s faith.
The 22-year-old said: “I’m pain-free for the first time since last December.
“I feel great – and I’m ready to show the gaffer what I can do.
“I had osteitis pubis – a problem with the pubic bone. It was horrible.
“I think Kieran Tierney had something similar. I don’t think I’d go for £2.50 never mind £25m though!
“Last December I just felt a lot of pain but I thought I could manage it and play on.
“I tried to play through it as long as I could. Some days it was really bad but others I could soldier on.
“They thought it was a hernia at first and that wouldn’t have been too bad but then they found out what it really was.
“Thankfully I didn’t need an operation but I had to offload it straight way. It was the last game of the season so I had four weeks, then another four weeks – so it has been four months since I last played.
“It was a struggle. I don’t get injured. I don’t like it.
“So it’s just a relief to be back on the pitch again.
“If you had told me I would have played 31 BY MICHAEL GANNON games last season I would do it all again.”
Martin would love to make his comeback this weekend against old side Hibs tomorrow.
The midfielder was on the fringes at Easter Road but couldn’t quite claim a regular role and doesn’t regret making the move back to the west of Scotland.
Martin said: “It is a wee bit different playing Hibs.
“I loved my time there. But the best thing that ever happened to me was coming to Hamilton.
“I’m proud of the fact I played 31 games here last season. That’s nothing against Hibs but I don’t think I’d have got that there.
“It was a great place to play and there were some really good players.
“But I am so grateful to Hamilton to give me the chance to come here and play that many games.
“It was hard to break through there. Even when I was on the bench I took that as a positive as there were good players being left out while I was getting minutes here or there.
“I’m proud to have played for Hibs and made an impression of some sort.
“But I wouldn’t be the player I am now without Hamilton. I’d probably be one of the boys playing ressies (reserves) every week or in that limbo zone of players between the 20s and first team.
“I’m still pally with a few of them and would have a chat if we bumped in to them but there has been a lot of changes on the playing side.”