Hoban is ‘ feeling fit again’ and determined to grasp Dons chance

Aberdeen defender Tommie Hoban believes his newfound appreciation of fitness and football can help drive him on.

Hoban feared his career was over amid an 18- month absence from the game during which his Watford contract expired. But Aberdeen gave him the facilities to finish his rehab from the knee injury which ended his loan spell at the club last year and then a short- term deal to get him back playing.

Hoban quickly proved his fitness and signed an extended contract until the end of the season during the international break. And t he 26- year- old is determined to grasp his opportunity after a horrendous run of major injuries.

"When it is almost taken away from you... there were t i mes l a s t s e a s o n when I wondered i f I would be able to come back," he said. "Being in the condition I am now, feeling good, feeling fit again, it makes you appreciate it 10 times more than before. I wish I had appreciated it the way I do now back when I was younger.

"The last four or five years have been tough and I' m feeling the fittest I have felt for quite some time now, but there is more to come. I am excited coming in every day and loving just feeling like a normal player again. I hope that will continue for the rest of the season and the rest of my career to come."

Ahead of today's Premiership match with Dundee United at Tannadice, Hoban a d d e d : "S p e n d i n g t h a t amount of time on the sidelines gives you a lot of time to think. Even though I wasn't playing I was sti l l t hinking about football a lot. In some ways I probably have improved as a player. I studied the game, watched a lot of football, that's all you can do when you're injured."

The centre- back is determined to repay Aberdeen and manager Derek MCInnes for giving him the platform to rebuild his career.

"The club have been fantastic with me and always shown their support," he s ai d. "The manager was great when I was injured, now and then he would drop me a message to see how I was getting on.

"I am so grateful Aberdeen gave me the chance to come back up here, being out of the game for that long it's very easy just to get sort of passed by. I will never forget the chance they have given me and I am hoping I can keep putting in good performances to repay them."