MacKenzie now ‘loving it’ after injury torment

2022-05-02 -

Aberdeen left-back Jack MacKenzie hopes a six-month injury nightmare is finally behind him.

The 21-year-old played a key role in the 1-0 defeat of Dundee that all but killed off the threat of being dragged into a relegation play-off.

It was only the defender’s fourth start since October last year.

MacKenzie revealed his injury hell saw him suffer problems with his hip, ankles and calf.

The defender says as he began to recover from one problem he would “break down with something else”.

Now, he is fully fit and ready to help Aberdeen finish the season with a winning run.

He said: “It’s been massively frustrating.

“I was really enjoying it at the start then about October I broke down.

“I didn’t really get going again until a couple of weeks ago.

“It’s been a nightmare six months but that’s all behind me now and I can push on.

“There were loads of different things. My hip, my ankle, wee niggles here and there in my calf, things like that.

“I just felt as though I couldn’t get up to speed and I’d break down with something else.”

MacKenzie was a regular starter at the beginning of the season until his injury problems hit.

He was sidelined for five weeks before making a comeback in a 1-0 defeat at Dundee United on November 20.

MacKenzie’s injury nightmare struck again at Tannadice and he was substituted at half-time.

He would not feature again until coming on as a late substitute in February.

The defeat of Dundee was the second successive game MacKenzie has started.

MacKenzie said: “You get a taste for it. Being from Aberdeen, I was loving it.

“And then having to watch from the sidelines was really frustrating.

“I had to re-evaluate different things because it wasn’t working.

“I did that and it took myself about four weeks to get up to speed and now I’m seeing the benefit of that.

“I’ve absolutely loved it recently being back in for the last couple of games.”

Aberdeen effectively eradicated the relegation play-off threat by beating Dundee.

The Reds are eight points ahead of 11th placed St Johnstone who occupy the play-off spot, with only three games remaining.

Aberdeen also have a far superior goal difference.

MacKenzie said: “I’d say there is relief and joy. Especially after the poor result last week (2-1 loss to Livingston).

“We had to put that right. We didn’t really care about the performance, it was just about getting the three points.”