Buckie Thistle striker John McLeod eyes return to action
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THERE is a special chair in the Buckie Thistle dressing room reserved for star striker John McLeod.
It hasn’t been occupied for two years and two months - the length of time he has been sidelined with chronic hip injuries.
However, the good news for Jags’ fans is that McLeod, who fired 47 goals in Buckie’s 2016-17 Highland League-winning season, is targeting a comeback before the end of this season.
McLeod (31) has undergone three hip operations since that amazing season.
And he readily admits he questioned whether he would ever kick a ball again.
McLeod still hasn’t kicked a ball yet in his rehabilitation, but he is running and hoping to get the all clear later this month to resume full training.
“I have been running for the last four weeks. The target is to be back on the bench in March.
“The rehab has gone well and I have been doing a lot of work with Sean Webb from Clach, who has been brand new and one of the best I have spoken to.
“I am going back down on February 25 to see how the hips have settled and get scans done.”
McLeod admitted: “It has been so hard in the head because obviously that’s two years and you don’t know how you will come back.
“Mentally you think you are getting there and then you are back to square one with another operation.
“Kevin Fraser has been brand new and Kieran Adams has been really good as well, and has been texting me the whole time.
“I want to get back in the squad and get a feel of being back in the team. It would be nice to get a couple of goals before the end of the season.
“The second op I had the consultant said my body has been producing too much calcium. It has been frustrating because I am only 31.
“When you look at Andy Murray and all the injections he went through, it’s been the same for me until my last operation,” he added.
