David Nairn was running in pre-season training and pulled up in pain. He felt there was something wrong with his right foot but did not think it was anything serious.
The pain intensified over the weekend and a scan revealed the worst, a broken foot. That freak injury at the end of August cost the Grange player dearly.
The 23-year-old missed the entire first part of the current campaign and Nairn is only now getting back to full fitness.
However, he signalled his return with a double as Grange brushed aside Capital rivals Inverleith in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup at Fettes.
And the Glasgow-born player, who operated in midfield last season but has been pushed more up-front since his return, netted twice as Grange thrashed Hillhead 5-1 in the first game since the mid-season Premiership split.
It has been a long few months for the audit associate with PWC, and he has had much time to reflect, but Nairn is delighted to be back and making a contribuition as Grange bid to retain the coveted title.
The club’s ambition is to win the league and go a stage further this term as they failed in the play-offs last year and that still hurts.
Thankfully, the player, who moved to the Capital last year because of work, was able to do some cardio work when he was sidelined. He was also a regular attender at Grange’s matches during his re-habilitation.
The former Clydesdale midfielder said: “There is nothing like playing but I really wanted to be part of it even if I could not play.
“I went to most of the matches, but I must admit it was pretty bleak missing out. Now, I have to get myself match-fit and it will take some weeks to get to the level I want to be.”
Grange recently lost their unblemished league record in a 1-1 draw at Glasgow side Hillhead, a game before Nairn’s comeback, however, the Edinburgh side still look down on the rest with 34 points from 12 outings.
The University of Edinburgh are in second spot with 30 points, the same mark as Western Wildcats, but the students have scored 59 goals against 57 netted by the Auchenhowie combine.
And, of course, there is still the Scottish Cup which Grange missed out on last season.
Nairn admitted that Grange would have preferred to have retained the six-point cushion on the chasing pack, but said: “If we keep working away we should be fine.”
PICTURE: David Nairn in action for Grange. Picture by Lens on the Field
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