Injury was so bad doc said it was like bomb exploding in my leg
SAYS CHRISTOPHE BERRA
Hearts skipper Christophe Berra admits his hamstring injury was so horrific that his surgeon compared it to a bomb going off.
The 33-year-old ripped the leg muscle from the bone during the August 11 victory over Celtic and was initially told he could be out for six months.
But two months ahead of schedule, the defender hopes to be back in the team for today’s visit of Rangers as Craig Levein’s men attempt to stop their season from imploding.
Hearts have taken one point from their last 12 amid a five-game scoreless run in all competitions.
Further injuries to fellow defender John Souttar plus attackers Steven Naismith and Uche Ikpeazu have taken their toll.
But Scotland defender Berra, who came through 45 minutes in a friendly against junior side Linl ithgow Rose on Wednesday, is thrilled to be back in contention this afternoon.
He said: “I’ve been training for about a week now although I’ve been working with the physios for two or three weeks and the sports scientist before that.
“I was initially told I would be out for four to six months.
“I had my operation and when he was in there the surgeon said it was like a bomb had gone off because of the state of my tendons – that’s how damaged they were.
“He had to stitch it up. He had done operations like that before and had guidelines that if all went well I could be back in four to five months. I’m ahead of schedule but I have worked hard.
“Everybody is different. Putting that work in early doors, getting the right advice from the medical team and looking after myself diet-wise until I got back running – it’s small things like that.
“I’ve been working hard and the medical staff probably tried to keep the reins on a little bit but my strength tests have been good and they can see that I am capable.
“I set this game as a target when I saw what the schedule was.
“If you can do that without saying you will be back, it’s good to have something to work to and that was one of them I chose as soon as I was outside running.”
Berra has attended 13 of the 15 matches he has missed so far.
His only absences have been a Premiership win at Kilmarnock and Betfred Cup victory away to Dunfermline because he was on crutches for the first fortnight after his operation. Even though
he has been unable to help his teammates on the pitch, Berra has made sure his presence has been felt in the dressing room at training and on match days.
He said: “You’re there every day. On game days you arrive a couple of hours before the game and stay after, maybe speaking to individuals and trying to pass on some advice to the younger ones.
“I didn’t need to go to all the games but I just wanted to be there and be involved.
“I felt if I wasn’t there I wouldn’t be doing myself justice.
“The only games I missed were Ki lmarnock and Dunfermline away because I was on crutches but I’ve been to every other game.
“You enjoy the wins but I won’t lie – you do want to be out there winning and be involved.
“If you’re involved in a successful team, success will come to you individually.”
Berra hopes his comeback can spark a return to winning ways following Hearts’ recent barren patch.
He added: “Apart from the last five games we’ve managed to score quite a few goals so we need to get that little monkey off our back.
“We’re not going to get too down about it but it’s up to us to put things right and back at home we have a good record at Tynecastle.
“It’s a big game, at home, on the telly,
a full house against the Old Firm – it’s massive and the atmosphere will be red hot. “And it’s down to us to make sure we create that atmosphere in the stadium.
“We can do that by being energetic and doing the things we’ve done well in the past at Tynecastle.”
After managing to avoid serious injur y in a professional career that began 15 years ago, the Scotland internationalist admits his spell out has made him appreciate the sport even more.
He added: “Maybe you take it for granted and I’ve been fortunate enough never to have a serious injury.
“You maybe look at people in the past who have serious injuries and have not paid as much attention because you’re out training.
“I’ve been quite positive throughout my rehab but it will affect others in different ways and you have to bear that in mind.
“Being injured for a long period of time can turn into a positive. I’ve probably done more leg weights than I’ve ever done. I will come back stronger.
“When you’re playing throughout the season you’ve got to watch what you do because there are so many games and you don’t want to tire your legs out too much.
“But my legs now should be stronger than they ever have been.”
I enjoyed wins but I won’t lie – I wanted to be out there winning as well