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Alex Samuels tries to see positives during recovery from serious cruciate ligament injury as Ross County forward works towards a return in Dingwall


By Andrew Henderson

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It has not been the 2022 that Ross County striker Alex Samuel hoped for.

Going into the new year, he had already had time to settle in to life in Dingwall after signing for the Staggies from Wycombe last summer.

Alex Samuel only managed six appearances for Ross County before picking up a serious knee injury. Picture: Ken Macpherson
Alex Samuel only managed six appearances for Ross County before picking up a serious knee injury. Picture: Ken Macpherson

However, the 27-year-old was only able to play two more matches – against Livingston in January and Hibernian in February – before a cruciate ligament injury ended his season early.

Samuel is only just back in training after a lengthy lay-off.

The Welshman has been trying to stay positive, though, and he says manager Malky Mackay has played a big role in keeping spirits high.

“For my rehab, I can’t thank the gaffer enough,” Samuel said.

“The way it works is that I have a block when I’m working, and then I will have about a week off to go home or on holiday.

“For me, that week off is really essential, as well as the weekends I have.

“I can go in and get my work done, and do everything I can, then I have my time off which mentally I need to get away and refresh.

“The gaffer really understands that, and has certainly helped me, my wife and my family – who I was able to see in Aberystwyth recently.

“I never would have been able to do that normally, so I always think of what the positives are, even out of a bad situation.

“I have been able to do things with my weekends, which I have never been able to do in my football career.”

Looking on the bright side is not to say that Samuel has had an easy time of things in his recovery.

Before his Ross County career had really got off the ground, he was on the sidelines with no prospect of returning to action any time soon – a far cry from the success he had at Wycombe.

While it may well take a bit longer to see Samuel on the pitch again in County colours, though, he is determined to be better than ever when the time does come.

“Especially as a new player coming in, you want to hit the mark running,” he said.

“It has been a really tough year, I can’t lie about that.

“I think that’s just football, you go through these periods. With my faith, and good people around me, it has really helped me through.

“I feel mentally and physically, I will probably come back even stronger than I was before that, which is the good thing about it.”


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