Hamstring tear was nothing compared to Chris’s teenage woes
Kilmarnock’s Chris Stokes is ready to get his season properly underway after spending the summer recovering from a hamstring tear.
Although that was a fairly serious setback, it was nothing compared to the injury that could have ended his career at the age of 14.
He said: “Tearing my hamstring in the final game of last season was a killer.
“I did the same thing in a cup tie against Hibs earlier in the campaign, so I had to spend the summer getting myself right.
“When you have that injury twice you need to be overcautious and the recovery took longer than I thought because I tried to come back too quickly.
“It was frustrating because everything seemed right, but it wasn’t.
“It was my first muscle injury but our pitch wasn’t a factor in that – if anything, the physios seem to think it may have been due to the transition from Astro to grass.
“Now I feel fine, though. I feel strong and I’m ready to make a contribution. Hamstrings take a little bit longer when you’re older.”
The 31-year-old made his comeback in Killie’s victory over St Johnstone in midweek and is looking forward to building on that in today’s home game against Hearts.
That recent absence was a minor blip in Stokes’ career, which is now in its 14th season.
But he might never have made it in the professional game if he hadn’t been attached to a top club at a young age.
He went on: “I was 14 and had just signed a five-year contract with Bolton Wanderers when the anterior cruciate ligament in my knee went.
“You wonder how you’re going to come back but it has never troubled me since.
“Bolton were a Premier League club at the time and had a top surgeon for me to go to.
“I got the rehab as well, so it was really good to be at a top club.
“It happened on artificial turf. My foot just got planted as the ball went over my head, my body went one way and I went the other. Then there was a full-on snap.
“These thing happen in football and it’s one of the worst you can get.
“At that young age, you need help and reassurance from coaches and your support network.
“I was out for about 15 or 16 months.
“I think they were cautious because I was so young, making sure I didn’t rush things.
“As long as you do the right things and listen to the right people, you will get over these things.
“But at the time, you are thinking the worst.”
After helping Kilmarnock out of the Championship, the former Forest Green Rovers’ player is relishing the chance to take part in Premiership action.
He said: “After doing all the hard work to win promotion, it was tough to then sit on the sidelines for as long as I did.
“I wanted to play in the Premiership and now I’m doing that, I want to stay in the team.
“Getting the three points in midweek was massive for us and, for me, just starting again was brilliant.
“Two or three wins can fire you up the table, which has already happened with teams we would expect to be in or around.
“We fancy ourselves against anyone on our own pitch, and that includes Hearts.”