Kevin Nisbet admits he's like a 'kid waiting on Christmas' as he gets set for his long-awaited return against Rangers.
The Hibs star has been working hard on the training ground and has picked up vital minutes on the park during the World Cup break as he gets ready to play under Lee Johnson. His return will be like a new signing for the Easter Road gaffer with the star striker physically and mentally ready to go as he bids to bring an end to the slump in form.
Nisbet is convinced he will return as a better and stronger player from his extended period out as he opened up on his 'lonely' battle on the sidelines. He admits the first three months were the toughest in what was the first real serious injury of his career. Reflecting on his journey, the Hibs star said: “I can’t wait to play at Ibrox. I’m like a kid waiting on Christmas and it is a long time since I have played in the league. Physically and mentally I am ready to go. And now I need to see if the gaffer gives me the nod.
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“The first three months were the toughest, and everyone who has suffered this type of injury would say the same. It’s a lonely injury and it was the first serious one of my career, and I didn’t know what to expect or how to handle it.
“The first three or four weeks if I wanted to lift my leg then I had to use my other one to do it. You don’t really sleep, I was up until 5am and I was on a lot of medication. I wasn’t eating much, I was in agony, and they are the ins and outs people don’t understand from an injury like this.
“You are then sitting in the physio room watching the boys going to train and that’s hard. You have to do the rehab right and do it every day, otherwise you will come back and get niggles or wee injuries.
“From the first day I have done things right and that’s why I am ready now. I did try to push myself at points and the physio had to reign me in.
“I think I will come back a better player. I have been doing a lot in the gym and doing things I couldn’t really work on when I was playing. I worked on getting stronger and quicker as well as working on my left foot.”
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