Steven Naismith does not know if he will return from injury before the end of the season, but is determined to come back as a better player.
Knee injury victim wants to come back as a better player
Rangers' Steven Naismith does not know if he will return from injury before the end of the season, but is determined to come back as a better player.
The 25-year-old was ruled out for the rest of the campaign after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in Scottish Premier League game against Aberdeen in October.
Boss Ally McCoist on Friday revealed the forward was given the all clear by his surgeon last week, but Naismith is unsure whether he will return to action ahead of the final game at St Johnstone on 13th May.
He told
Blues News: "Things have gone well and I've upped my training now so that I'm doing the majority of things.
"I've not done a lot of contact stuff with the physios or the other boys who are coming back from injuries as that's the next stage.
Safe
"I'm hopeful I'll be back training normally before the end of the season, but we'll need to wait and see if I get game time or not.
"From a professional point of view, it's probably safer to wait until next season, but I've missed it for so long and I'm dying to get back on the park again.
"You never know, but the physios will have the final say. So far it has been great but we've a bit to go yet."
Naismith suffered a similar injury to his other knee in 2008, which kept him out of action for eight months.
And, having successfully overcome that setback, he sees no reason why he cannot return stronger from this latest injury.
Chances
He added: "I'm going to work hard to get back to where I was and I'm hopeful I can score more goals and take more of the chances I get.
"I want to come back as a better player than I was. That was the case after my first operation and it's no different this time.
"I certainly think I'll be coming back properly at a good time in pre-season.
"I'll be fairly fit, perhaps even at a better level than everyone else, as they won't be match fit.
"There is still work to be done and I'll be looking to get my sharpness back, because with these kinds of injury, you need to put a lot into it.
"When I return, I'll probably stay back and do more extra sessions, because the key for me now is kicking on again."
