Scott Fox couldn't have timed it any better. After spending 14 months off the pitch, he returned on the same night as the fans to help Greenock Morton gain the upper hand over Airdrie.
The Motherwell loanee, who signed for the Ton just hours before his debut, played his part as his new side saw off Ian Murray's Diamonds on Tuesday.
And in a funny twist of fate, it was his first game since March 2020, meaning he remains one of the few players in the world to have avoided playing behind closed doors due to a year spent on the sidelines.
"I have timed it perfectly," the 33-year-old, who injured his cruciate ligament last year, said. "The fans are back and I'm back. Happy days.
"It's 14 months since I last played. It's a weird feeling. You train every day but coming back I knew the risks but I wanted to prove myself.
"The only way to do that is by playing games."
Having been drafted in at the last-minute to replace the injured Aidan McAdams, Fox enjoyed a relatively quiet night at New Broomfield as Morton held off Airdrie's advances before Robbie Muirhead popped up to net an injury time winner.
The late drama means the Ton will play Championship football next season if they can avoid defeat in the return leg at Cappielow on Friday.
"I got a call last week because they knew Aidan was struggling," Fox said. "I wanted to play games.
"Motherwell had it in their minds that they would like me to play but maybe at the start of next season.
"In the situation, you are together so I spent a good hour with my new teammates on Monday.
"Everyone looks after themselves. A clean sheet. Happy days.
"It was a good one to come back in. The boys looks after me well."
When asked what he thought he would be doing on Tuesday night, Fox said: "I would probably be putting the wain to bed or the coaching side.
"I'll take this all day and can do the coaching side another day."
Meanwhile, Airdrieonians boss Murray has claimed a rule change over the number of substitutes allowed in a game "only favours the Championship clubs".
The Diamonds were reduced to just three options off the bench on Tuesday night, two less than allowed during their semi-final clash with Cove Rangers.
And on an injury plagued night for the home side, Murray believes it might have made the difference.
"I stressed it last week that the rule change has been quite a problem for us," he said.
"It's ridiculous. It's hard enough to get out the league when you are playing teams above you but this only favours the Championship teams, as per usual.
"Not a lot of gratitude shown by clubs up there sometimes when a little bit of help is needed.
"But it is what it is and we'll regroup and try to turn this tie around."
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