Raff almost ready after injury slog
Winger targets top team start
Livingston winger Raffaele de Vita says he’s desperate to make his Premiership bow for the club – but admits he’ll need to wait a little bit longer to make his return from injury.
The 31- year- old sustained cruciate ligament damage during the Premiership play- offs last term and played a full 90 minutes for the first time since the injury in a 6-1 victory over Albion Rovers in the Reserves League on Monday night.
And the Italian ace admits he’s champing at the bit as he bids to become just the second player to represent the Lions in all four divisions of Scottish football.
Speaking to the Courier, de Vita said: “There’s light at the end of the tunnel now and I’m raring to go. We were a bit early with the rehab so it was important that we didn’t do anything that might have caused problems in the future. Everything is according to plan.”
De Vita enjoyed a fruitful spell with the club from 2008-2011 before returning for a second stint in October 2016.
And he admits seeing the success his team-mates have had this season has made being on the sidelines easier to take.
He said: “I think it has helped me a lot because it’s a great atmosphere to come into work every day. I honestly thought we were one of the better sides in the league during the first few months.
“We’ve been fantastic this season and it’s great to see so many of the core from the League One side still here and playing well at this level.
“It shows how important it is to not make changes every year. We’ve added well and everyone who has come in has been great, not only on the pitch but in the changing room as well.”
While his return to first team action inches ever closer, the former Ross County attacker admits it’s been a tough road to recovery. He said: “It’s been very challenging. I had the same injury when I signed for Livingston the first time so at least I knew what to expect this time around and what was required in the months ahead.
“A lot of people talk about clubs not looking after players but Livingston were tremendous.
“As soon as the injury happened, they booked me in with the best surgeon in the country and I got my operation done quickly. I didn’t have to wait long or worry about things.
“It’s a hard programme of recovery when you do your cruciate and it has been a challenge, but the club were fantastic and having Lee Miller with me was a big help, too, because it’s an injury he’s been through and he’s a very positive person.
“There’s progress every day and that is what keeps you going. Hopefully everything goes to plan and I can be playing in the first team again sooner rather than later.”
Meanwhile, boss Gary Holt says he’s likely to be struggling for strikers once again as the Lions take on Dundee at home on Saturday.
Scott Robinson is back in training and is hoping to feature for the first time since before Christmas. But Scott Tiffoney and Dolly Menga are doubts, while de Vita and Lee Miller are sidelined.