Accies keeper Fulton hopes his 16-month CalMac ghost can be buried in big opener

RYAN FULTON went from hero to zero in the few seconds it took for a Callum McGregor shot to squirm through his hands on his last outing at Celtic Park.

Painfully for the big Hamilton keeper, waiting for the chance to exorcise that ghost has taken much longer – 16 months to be precise – due to a horror injury which saw him needing to have his thigh rebuilt.

Now the big Scouser is hoping to finally bury the cruelest year and a half of his career when he returns to Celtic Park for the curtainraiser in just 18 days’ time.

Fulton had kept the champions at bay with a series of brilliant saves in the opening 40 minutes of that Parkhead clash in January 2019.

Unfortunately the game is remembered for two bloopers either side of the interval which ended Accies’ hopes of stealing a point from Celts.

The keeper, who came through the ranks at Liverpool, was consoled by his former gaffer Brendan Rodgers at the end.

But matters only got worse for the 24-year-old when he tore his quad muscle a few weeks later.

Then, just as he was ready to make his playing return earlier this year, the coronavirus crisis stopped him dead in his tracks.

Fair to say then the keeper is due a positive break.

And he hopes it can come when the curtain goes up on the new campaign at Parkhead. Asked if he saw it as a chance to bury the Celtic Park memory, Fulton said: “Definitely. I want to do it for myself more than anything and also for the club. “Hamilton have been brilliant through my injuries and made sure I get the best care. I have been here three years now and I want to get out there and play, hopefully I can give something back to the club. “Hopefully I can earn a start for the opening game. “The last time at Celtic Park