Cardle fought through pain to help Kelty’s quest for promotion

ON their way to securing an emphatic League Two title last season Kelty Hearts star Joe Cardle revealed that at 35 years old he is still learning.

The winger adapted his game under Kevin Thomson last season, playing a bit narrower than he had in the past.

He excelled, scoring 16 times, creating another 11 and scooping the League 2 player of the year award at the end of it all.

After scoring four goals in back-to-back games versus Stirling and FC Edinburgh he went on to score just twice for the remainder of the season.

Cardle, who prides himself on staying in shape, said that he was nursing an injury over that latter period.

“I’ve been playing with it for the last six months,” said Cardle.

“I was just getting through training and... games and struggling in-between times.

“It got to a point in the summer when I took two to three weeks’ rest and did nothing.

“Then I started running when I was back in Portugal and felt it straight away.

“So I knew there was a problem. I managed to get looked at by a specialist and have a scan.

“We realised there was really bad inflammation on the bone on my hip and on my groin – I had a tear on my groin as well.”

A steroid cortisone injection followed, administered a week ago past Friday, with a sevento-ten-day recovery period.

The treatment seems to have worked and Cardle is desperate to return.

He will play no part in the match versus Raith Rovers today but is hoping his return isn’t too far behind it: “I’m feeling amazing, I’m feeling great after the injection.

“I’m hoping to be in training this week with the boys and I’m going to be available for selection next weekend for the start of the season.”