Kieran McKechnie is hoping to put injury hell behind him and kick on for Queen of the South.
The 20-year-old midfielder replaced Lee Connelly in the first half of the 0-0 draw with Arbroath on Saturday after almost a year out with a knee injury.
The former Rangers player decided to go under the knife and take the hit now rather than have the injury flare up again later in his career.
He said: “I’ve been looking forward to playing ever since I got back to fitness.
“I’ve been out since last March.
“I had an operation in April and it was a long rehab.
“I only got back into training in December and I’ve just been waiting on an opportunity to play.
“I played a few reserve games to get fitness a couple of weeks ago.
“I didn’t actually have to get the operation but it would be better for my career going forward if I got it fixed.
“I want to push on from now and hopefully play as many games as I can between now and the end of the season.”
McKechnie almost had a dream comeback when he thought he’d scored the winner – only for Arbroath to clear his shot off the line.
He said: “That’s what I like to think I do – try and win games and create chances.
“I’ve just turned and hit the shot knowing where I was going to put it.
“Wullie said to me before the game that he believed in me and it was a new slate for everybody with him coming in so I was keeping ready.
“To get a clean sheet as well was amazing.”
