SAINTS DEFENDER SET FOR RETURN STEP CHANGE
Dunne back from injury
a newspaper
Walking out in front of a packed Tynecastle this weekend would be especially significant for Charles Dunne.
That’s because the St Mirren defender couldn’t even walk up the stairs a year ago. The former Motherwell centre back suffered a painful bruised knee bone injury that robbed him of nearly two years of his football career. Having tweaked his hamstring shortly after joining the Buddies in the summer, the 28-year-old’s had to patiently bide his time to get back on the pitch once again.
When Conor McCarthy hobbled off against Livingston on Saturday afternoon, Dunne came off the bench and impressed in his first appearance since August. Now he’s hoping he can keep his place and face up to a rowdy Hearts crowd in the capital.
Speaking exclusively to Express Sport, he said: “It had been a while since I’d played. I was injured for five weeks and then couldn’t get back in the team because the boys have been playing so well.
“I just had to bide my time. Obviously it’s unfortunate Conor went off injured but I just had to be ready to step in. It gave me a chance.
“Hearts are a very good team this season. We’ve got to put our plan in place and do what we can to make it tough for them.
“I’ve played at Tynecastle a few times and it’s a great atmosphere there. The fans give you plenty of stick — I enjoy that, that’s what football is all about.”
We’ve got difficult games coming up but as long as I’m playing, I don’t care who we’re up against.
“I’ll be happy just being on the pitch because this time last year I couldn’t even walk up the stairs properly.
“To go from that to playing at places like Tynecastle and Celtic Park is massive for me. You’ve just got to embrace it.”
Dunne is confident his injury problems are behind him and could find himself thrust into the thick of St Mirren’s hectic winter fixture list if McCarthy’s injury is as bad as first feared.
He insists the competition for places in Paisley drives the standards up — particularly in defence. He said: “I’ve trained for about five weeks now so I’m totally fit, no problems there at all. I’ve got no pain or anything.
“Now I’ve got the shirt it’s up to me to keep it. Hopefully Conor’s injury isn’t too bad, but the competition we’ve got at the back is so strong.
“If someone drops their standards then someone else will be straight in and that keeps everyone on their toes.
“We needed that clean sheet against Livingston so it was disappointing not to manage that.
“It felt like two points dropped and that’s happened too many times this season.”
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