PURDUE: NOW I’M READY FOR ANYTHING

JACK PURDUE was like a “daft wee boy” on his return from a double leg break but the Annan youngster reckons he now has the mindset to manage anything thrown at him.

Eleven months on from swapping matchday at Galabank to 16 days in hospital, the 21-year-old has five bits of metal in his right leg after four ops.

The midfielder made a nerve-stricken competitive comeback off the bench a fortnight ago at Elgin before being handed another late cameo in defeat by Edinburgh City.

Annan subsidised his physio on the road back while Libby Emmerson, founder of mental health charity Back Onside, became a “second mother” with her support.

A clash with leaders Kelty beckons today as Annan look to head into the international break within two points of the Maroon Machine.

Purdue said: “It was just good to go on the pitch, you’ve got all your teammates shouting, ‘C’mon this is your chance, it’s been a long time coming’. That gives you a lift.

“I remember Owen Moxon shouting at me, ‘If the tackle is there, then go through it’, I’ll not repeat what else he said!

“You should have seen my first touch, so bad.

“The left-back has given it to me and their rightback is right behind me, pushing on to me. My right foot was like a brick wall so it bounced a few yards in front of me, the defender has come round and we’ve both gone for a 50 50.

“But that was probably the biggest relief of the whole experience – getting that first tackle out of the way. Everyone I’ve spoken to who has had these types of injuries said, ‘As soon as the first tackle is out the way, that’s you sorted’.

“The feeling was still there, the buzz was still there, even though it was eight, 10 minutes, I just ran about like a daft wee boy.

“Mentally it’s challenging but coming out the other side, I could say I could go through anything now and it wouldn’t phase me.

“Hopefully all teams in Scotland are going to end up being in contact with Libby or using her as a support, which is needed.”