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Article from a sh@terag today
Tommie Hoban felt a clunk and knew straight away he was in serious trouble.
So much so that in the days after his cruciate curse struck again, the defender doubted he could trek the road to recovery.
Only 25 years old but having suffered his second major knee injury in as many seasons on top of shoulder surgery, he thought long and hard about chucking it.
Almost six weeks on from the Aberdeen player – on loan from Watford – being stretchered off against St Mirren, he’s focusing on silver linings not goodbyes.
Like the fact he has young son Finley to help him travel the long road that rehab inevitably means.
Hoban, who only played nine games at Dons, said: “Mentally it is very hard. The first few days after I suffered the injury I was just thinking to myself, ‘I can’t go through this again, there is such a long road ahead’. There is that fear – is it going to happen again? You start to doubt your body.
“I had to get those negative thoughts out of my head because being a footballer, there aren’t many jobs like it and if I was to call it a day now I know 100 per cent I would regret it in say five years’ time.
“I am still only 25 and I know I can get over it. I know it would be silly and rash if I was to call it a day.
“It will be a tough six months ahead and there will be days when I am down and struggling.
“But mentally I need to keep strong because there are a lot worse things that can happen in life. I was devastated but when I got in the door and saw Finley smiling, that put things into perspective. I will get more time to spend around him, which will be good. That will be the one bonus I can take from the injury.
“I have a good family and support network and they’ll help to keep me on the right road.”
Those around him at Pittodrie played a major part in keeping him in a positive mindset as well.
And if there is a positive to be found it’s the fact it was the other knee he’d injured previously.
Hoban, hoping to be back fully fit by October, said: “I was closing someone down and I planted my left leg. I felt a clunk and my knee buckling. I knew right away something serious had happened.
“It was a lot different to the other cruciate. It was more innocuous because I kept training then went out the next day but my knee kept bucking on me. I had to wait a couple of days for the scans but I knew it was bad and my cruciate. The doctors and physios were brilliant.
“Derek McInnes told me he had a lot of injuries in the early part of his career then a good five or six-year run without them.
“I have to have that belief I can now come back and put a similar run together.”
Hoban, meanwhile, isn’t closing the door on a return to Aberdeen.
With his Watford deal up in the summer, Dons boss McInnes said he’d bring Hoban in if he wanted a permanent move.
And Hoban said: “It was really kind of him. I loved my time at Aberdeen. The boys are great, the staff are brilliant and I enjoyed living up there with the family although it was shorter than we’d hoped.
“I would consider going back if it was an option.”
Hoban remains in limbo about his Watford future and added: “I don’t know if they’ll offer me anything or not but it doesn’t change what I know I need to do. I have to focus on getting fit.”
Seriously injured in the past and out of contract. McInnes will sign him
Originally Posted by KIWIRED
