David Robertson recovered his fitness some time ago but he has still to get back on his feet.
The midfielder had been injured so long that it was perhaps only a matter of time that his position at St Johnstone would come to feel a little iffy, with the club this week confirming that he would not be offered a contract extension beyond next month. He had broken his leg in November last year and now his connection to the club has been fractured.
The leg break had necessitated a short-term deal in the summer and bone bruising suffered once he made his return to full training effectively wrote it off. Robertson will become a free agent next month and for the first time in his career, since he chose to leave Dundee United in 2011.
It is his past at Tannadice which perhaps still holds the best hope for his future. The 26-year-old had played a prominent role in United's Scottish Cup triumph in 2010 - he scored the decisive goal against Rangers in the quarter-final - and also helped the club to reach the Scottish League Cup final two years earlier. He remains hopeful of adding to his cv once he is released formally by St Johnstone.
"If I had got a run of games I could have shown I was worth another deal. I have just run out of time," said Robertson, whose current side face Partick Thistle today.
"It's the first time I have ever been in this position so, hopefully, there will be a club coming in for me. The manager said it could have been a different matter if the team hadn't been doing well. I just wish I could have had a crack at it to show my worth.
"This has been a year that has made me appreciate football a lot more. I have always loved my football but I am more eager now than I ever was. I have played in big games, including cup finals at United. I have had a good career so far and I intend to make sure it continues."
There is similar optimism to be found in a conversation with James Craigen, even if his Thistle side have not won since October. Their league record is made more at Firhill - where the Glasgow side have not won this term - but Craigen is determined to remain positive.
"Everyone knows that we've not won at home but it's not something that we dwell on or talk about," said the Thistle midfielder. "We can take heart from last week [a 1-1 draw with away to Hibernian] when we were within seconds of getting the three points.
"In the last two games I feel we've kept everything a lot tighter as well. I don't think the relegation play-off spot is something we need to think about, really. We're looking up the league - that's the mindset."
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