Craig Gordon doesn’t need any extra motivation to make another unlikely comeback from a cruel injury blow; after all he has done it before.
However, the Hearts keeper admits the thousands of messages of support – including some from rival fans of Rangers and Hibs – have helped spur him on in the early stages of his injury rehab.
Scotland international Gordon, 40, is just weeks into his rehab after a nasty double leg break suffered in the draw with Dundee United on Christmas Eve.
But he’s positive on his chances of returning to the pitch especially after being bombarded with messages of support from all over the world.
"It has been absolutely incredible, I have tried to get back to some but there's no way I could get back to them all,” the veteran stopper told BBC Sportsound.
"There have been hundreds, probably over a thousand messages on my phone, through Instagram, texts and Whatsapp; just to feel the warmth from everybody willing me to get better and to try and have a go at coming back.
"It has been really great from teams all over Scotland. Hibs fans, everything, Rangers fans, all the ones who have probably been against me at other points - to just feel the football community the guys that respect what we go out and do every week it has been phenomenal to feel that.
"I'm going to give this everything I've got. I've done it before, I can't make any promises. I am going to try and do the best I can and hopefully that is good enough.”
Such is the drive and determination of Gordon’s comeback efforts that he is already walking unaided in short spells and have regained most of the movement in his leg.
"It's just one step at a time,” he said of his rehab journey. “My next x-ray is at six weeks just to see how everything is settling down and how the metalwork is in place and everything is in alignment.
"That's the next stage and all I can look forward to. In the meantime, it's just working on the knee and ankle joints and making sure they are moving well and getting my range of movement back.
“So far that has went really well and I've got most of the movement back and I can take a few steps unaided without the crutches or the boot and can get around the house okay.”
The keeper returned to Tynecastle for the first time since his injury for the visit of St Mirren. It was a welcome sight for Hearts supporters and Gordon revealed manager Robbie Neilson is determined to keep him involved and use his influence off the pitch.
He added: "He (Robbie Neilson) wants me to be around the dressing room and help him in any way I can if I see anything to use my voice and speak up.
"He still wants me to be a big part of it and make sure I'm still doing a lot of my roles as I would when I am the captain.
"I will try do them the best I can with the injury that I've got.
"I've watched a couple (games at home) and it's not nice to watch. I'd much rather be here even though I can't do much to influence it.
"I'd rather be here and be able to speak to the boys in the dressing room and feel part of it again."
