Aged 33, it’s no secret that most footballers are well aware of the dawning reality that is life after the game.
Gary Mackay-Steven thought that it could all have been over for him last year.
However, a second chance at football was handed to him by Derek McInnes at Kilmarnock, and the former Dundee United, Celtic, Aberdeen and Scotland winger is looking to fully embrace it.
The attacker extended his contract at Rugby Park until the end of the season on Wednesday after initially signing for seven games in December. He made four substitute appearances for the club, as he made an impact from the bench and showed his abilities in training.
After recovering from an injury setback in the summer with Hearts, despite being released, McInnes was in touch and things have been taken easy since. Mackay-Steven is appreciative of the opportunity and is ultimately glad to still be able to do the job he loves.
"I'm delighted to get things over the line and know the next few months I can concentrate on kicking on,” he said. "I've been training here since November, building up fitness with a great group of boys.
"There's a lot of potential and talent in the changing room here so I'm happy to compliment what's already here.
"The gaffer was massively important. I was just with a physio for a long time and wasn't in a good place for long enough. I couldn't run, I was sore walking.
"I got over that and started to feel a bit better. Training was the next hurdle to get over and the option to come here I jumped at, because I just wanted to see if I could still do it to start with.
"The gaffer was very laid back about me coming in and just slowly building myself up. I'm really grateful for that opportunity. I've gone from strength to strength, I'm feeling better and better and I've loved every minute here so far.
"I was taking every day as it came. Every day I managed to complete training was a bonus and a milestone that I was going home delighted to put on a pair of boots and not be in pain. I could do what I could before.
"I didn't want to look too far ahead. I had to build it up over a long time, you'd have one good day and then one bad.
"I had prepared myself for the worst, going back months. I had doubts if I'd come back for sure because it was a tough injury to get over.
"Coming here when I was pain-free to start with and putting on a pair of boots, then it was the enjoyment of getting back into football."
Mackay-Steven’s finest moments in a Killie shirt came with a late cameo showing against Dundee in the last game for the club in 2023. He produced two wicked crosses into dangerous areas as Joe Wright and Rory McKenzie scored to help the Ayrshire side to a 2-2 stalemate.
Getting through these appearances without the recurrence of his previous issues has been a huge relief for the forward, who previously played for McInnes at Pittodrie.
“Training is one thing, it's controlled and you can build it up. But games are a different proposition altogether. Having done training I was more confident in the foot, but playing games and being involved was a great feeling.
"Even just being involved in matchday squads it had been a long time.
"Getting over the first few minutes was a relief. So far everything's gone so well and hopefully, I can kick on and keep the good spirits up.
"The team had been doing so well in December. Training was a high standard and I just wanted to compliment that.
"In games, any time you do get on the park you want to make an impact.
"I was just happy to do that, but now it's all about building up match fitness, which comes with playing games. Hopefully, there's more to come. And for sure I feel good about the future.”
While he’s maybe not quite ready to start a match yet, with Dundee in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup scheduled for a week today, Mackay-Steven knows that call from the boss can’t be far away.
As one of the senior pros in the team alongside Marley Watkins, Kyle Vassell and McKenzie, he is desperate to help impart his knowledge and experience of the game onto some of the club’s younger talents such as David Watson, Lewis Mayo and Danny Armstrong.
He added: “I’ve already got great relations with a lot of boys in the changing room and Danny has been flying, which is great to see.
“I love seeing boys with a lot of talent who are playing with no fear and confidence. I see it every day in training and it’s a breath of fresh air for me, too. Coming in and helping any way I can, filling them up with confidence and letting them express themselves day-in and day out is a great feeling and great for me to see.
“It’s refreshing and the boys, like I said, play with no fear. Long may it continue for them. They are doing a great job as it is.”
