Dumbarton new boy Russell McLean hopes to end the toughest season of his career by helping the Sons to promotion.
After netting 15 times in 38 appearances for League One Peterhead last season, a knee injury curtailed the forward’s season early in April.
Setbacks with his recovery meant the 24-year-old didn’t kick a ball again until early December – with the Blue Toon enduring a nightmare first half to the season after losing a host of key players over the summer.
However, Russell is now ready for a fresh start in G82 – with a manager who tried to sign him during the summer.
The former Hearts man said: “It’s been a very frustrating time.
“The last game I played before my injury was against Dumbarton in April. I had a knee injury which kept me out for the rest of the season. After seeing specialists they came to the conclusion that I needed an operation on my ankle to relieve the pain in my knee.
“I’d had that operation previously, so I had that done. Because I had it before I thought I’d be back playing in two or three months like the previous time.
“But then came complication after complication. Wounds were infected, I got tendonitis in and around my ankle.
“Every time I got going I seemed to just break down again.
“I’m over that now. It’s going to be a case of managing the injury now until the end of the season, and then over the summer my focus will be on getting fully fit.”
Russell was transfer listed by Peterhead last summer, but reveals he was priced out of a move to the Sons – or elsewhere.
He continued: “The manager phoned in the summer to enquire about me, but I still had a year left on my contract with Peterhead and they were looking for money for me.
“ It wiped any chance of a move to be honest.
“I spoke to David Robertson when he came in as Peterhead manager, he was happy to let me go and Dumbarton was my club of choice.
“There was interest from other clubs.
“But the fact Dumbarton had been in touch multiple times, their position in the league and the carrot of winning another title all played a part.
“I know a few of the boys at Dumbarton, particularly Brett Long.
“He made me aware of how good a club it was and how professional the set-up was.
“I’ve only been to a few training sessions, but for a part-time club it’s very professional.
“Sports science and data analysis are really important, and those members of staff are very enthusiastic about what they do.
“It’s a change from Peterhead.
“It’s a positive to go to a team flying high at the top of the league.
“I should get more chances to score and more touches of the ball. Having watched Peterhead this season that didn’t look likely if I’d stayed there.”
And after netting four times in three games against the Sons, Rusty – as he is known throughout the game – need no introduction to his new teammates.
He laughed: “The boys were reminding me the other night of the games up at Peterhead where we absolutely battered them.
“I had a good record against Dumbarton. Sometimes as a striker you get those teams you just do well against. Unfortunately for Dumbarton they became that team last year.
“That’s probably why I caught the eye of the manager.”
