Conor McMenamin yesterday opened up on the pain of missing St Mirren’s Euro adventure. The Buddies winger is back from several months on the sidelines following knee surgery.
He went under the knife in the summer after speaking to a specialist in London as a nagging issue since last autumn refused to heal. But the 29-year-old’s rehabilitation period meant he was unavailable for Saints’ UEFA Conference League clashes with FC Valur of Iceland and Norway’s SK Brann.
McMenamin was part of the sell-out crowds for the SMiSA Stadium ties – but couldn’t fly out with his team-mates for the away legs.
It’s left the Northern Irish international – who returned as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox – with an itch to scratch and extra motivation this season as he lifted the lid on his time in the treatment room.
“It’s great to be back with the boys,” he said ahead of today’s Premiership trip to Hibernian. “It’s been a long journey in the gym and trying to get back fit after surgery. It feels good now so hopefully the surgery has worked.
“I’m still not match fit yet. I haven’t had any bounce games. I’ve been thrown straight into the deep end but that can also be a good thing as well. Hopefully I can help the team do well and get back playing to a good level.
“The physio [Gerry Docherty] and myself, we had that Rangers game circled as a comeback. It was something to look forward to as a target to hit when you’re going through those lonely days in the gym by yourself.
“We got there in the end. We got back to that game and fair play to Gerry for dragging me through some of those days as well.
“It’s lonely in the gym, looking out the windows and the boys are training. Missing out on the European games was probably the toughest bit.
“I was at the home games when the stadium was packed and the boys were brilliant but I had to watch the away games in the house.
“It was tough to take – especially having worked all year to get there and then you have it taken away from you. But that’s part of football.”
One bright spot for McMenamin as he recovered was extra time back home in Belfast to spend with his eight-year-old daughter Daisy who will be in the crowd cheering him on at Easter Road this afternoon.
“I was able to take her to school a lot more and do the little things that dads have to do,” he added. “She’s over this weekend and she’s coming to the game. Hopefully I’ll score for her! I’m looking forward to it.
“We’re under no illusions it will be a tough game. They have some real good players and it’ll be a tough ask ut we’re going there trying to get the win.”
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