'I want to come back and be even better' (From Watford Observer)

Watford and Scotland midfielder Stephen McGinn discusses his long road back from injury

9:20am Sunday 1st January 2012 in Sport By Frank Smith

The dark days are behind him and now Stephen McGinn can see light at the end of the tunnel.

McGinn has been out injued since an innocuous challenge with team-mate Adam Thompson and Jason Euell at Doncaster Rovers in February resulted in a cruciate knee ligament injury.

The likeable midfielder admitted to suffering some “dark days” but he has been able to strike a ball for more than a month now and when he spoke exclusively to the Watford Observer before Christmas, he was hoping to return to training with the rest of the squad this week or next.

McGinn is able to move freely and is now concentrating on building up his strength following ten months on the sidelines.

“Since I started the fitness work, I just go home and go straight to bed,” McGinn said.

“My body is in bits but there has been no reaction in my knee and things are looking good on that front.

“I don’t think there is anything I can’t do because I can twist, turn, pass and shoot but it is now down to increasing my level of fitness before I go in with the boys.”

The gym at Watford's London Colney training base can be a lonely place when fellow injured team-mates come and go but McGinn has thanked the other players and coaching staff for helping keep him involved during his long lay-off.

The latest companion on his road to recovery was Martin Taylor and McGinn claimed having the experienced centre-half alongside him provided a “great boost”.

McGinn said trying to keep up with Taylor, who has only been out since mid-October, aided his fitness work but admits he has to be disciplined due to the temptation to push himself too hard.

He said: “You do feel like you’re not doing enough and it seems like just as you are getting into things, it is stopped.

“But that is what people tell you – when the physios and sports scientists tell you ‘that is enough’ then it has to be enough. Otherwise that is when the risk comes into it, when you are fatigued.

“At the end of the fitness session today I was actually seeing three balls because I am that unfit, so sometimes you do notice when enough is enough,” McGinn smiled.

Both of McGinn’s managers during his time at Watford have been sidelined with long-term injuries and he has thanked both men for their advice and support during his recovery.

Current boss Sean Dyche was out for more than a year with a back injury and he believes the midfielder has the personality to come back strong.

Dyche said: "Stephen has been excellent but he is a real professional young man and a good personality, so he is the type of person to deal with these sorts of things.

“Most players are resilient and you need to show that with a long-term injury.

“He is coming along nicely. Dave Hart (head of medical) is working with him closely and being wise with him to make sure he comes back right the first time.”

McGinn clearly appreciates the need to be careful but also admits to becoming “sick” of the training ground gym at times, even if he is still an active part of the squad in every aspect other than playing football.

He said: “Rehab is now much easier but even a month ago I was in the gym everyday and it was really frustrating.

“You do say to yourself ‘I’m going to beat this and I’m going to work as hard as I can to get back’ but it gets to a point, every two or three weeks, where things get on top of you and you think ‘I’m just sick of this place’.

“When you see the boys out training and playing games then maybe once a month it gets on top of you.

“But now I am at the stage where I can see the light. I’m starting to almost have a warm-up with the boys and almost taking part in the sessions, so it is a pretty exciting part in the rehab.”

So what does he do when it all becomes too much?

“The only real remedy is just calling it a day,” McGinn replied.

“I do feel I work hard on my good days so every now and then when I have a bad one, I hold my hands up and the physios are happy to take it down a wee bit.”

Alongside Dyche and Malky Mackay, McGinn has also benefited from having team-mates who have endured torrid injury battles.

The 23-year-old spoke of the “unofficial bond” between those who have suffered long-term injuries.

He said: “Anytime I come across someone who has had a long-term injury – such as when Michael Kightly joined the club – right away he had sympathy for what I was going through and he came to speak to me.

“So it is almost like you have an unofficial bond because you know how hard it is. If someone goes down with a bad injury now, I will immediately feel for them because I know what they are going through and how hard it is.

“You know how many people go through injuries so you think they have done it and come back stronger, which is encouraging.”

McGinn had a slow start to his Watford career following his move from St Mirren two years ago but he had firmly established himself as a Championship midfielder before his injury.

The former Scotland Under-21 international had started 20 of the previous 24 matches before his injury and only missed those games because of a fractured cheekbone.

McGinn was showing his best form before the injury but he recognises that it may not be until next season that he returns to the same level.

He said: “John Eustace, who had a bad injury a few years ago, and Michael Kightly have both said ‘don’t get frustrated. You could come back flying and better than you ever were but there is a good chance when you come back that your body can’t do what your brain is telling it to’.

“So it could take until the next pre-season that you’re really happy with yourself. So I am prepared for not coming back exactly how I want to but it still doesn’t stop me wanting to come back even better.”