Two years ago Marcus Fraser left Firhill with his career hanging in the balance.
No matter how well treatment for Anterior Cruciate Ligament is developed the letters ACL are the ones that every player fears. Especially when you are 19-years-old, captain of the Celtic youth side and recently started your first top team match.
24 February 2013 was the date that Fraser’s career went on hold as he suffered the dreaded injury during Celtic’s 2-0 win over Aberdeen to reach the semi-final of the SFA Youth Cup.
Last January the defender played for Celtic against Galatasaray during the winter break but after a loan stint at Cowdenbeath he was released from his contract to sign for Ross County- making his debut against the hoops last month.
The length and terms of the contract won’t be of too much interest for Fraser- playing games every week and getting his career back on course are far more important.
A fortnight ago, after a 4-0 hammering at Aberdeen things looked bleak for Ross County as manager Jim McIntyre attempted to put together a squad capable of lifting themselves away from the foot of the table.
Back-to-back wins over Motherwell and Partick Thistle have changed the outlook around the Dingwall club with Fraser more than playing his part in yesterday’s win at Firhill- one year and 363 days on from suffering his injury.
Lyle Taylor’s 68th minute header had given Thistle hope of salvaging a point with little real threat when Fraser picked the ball up halfway inside his own half.
Two 1-2’s later and he was staring at Paul Gallacher in the Thistle goal and drilling a low shot home from 12 yards out to secure a vital win for the Highland side.
Afterwards McIntyre said: “I’m delighted with today. It’s the first time we have won back-to-back games this season.
“The challenge after last week’s superb performance against Motherwell was to back it up.
“I’ve said since the day I came in the door that there are players here that are capable of winning matches at this level but it’s fine me saying that, you have to win these matches for people to believe it.
“However, we’ve only won two games. A wrong result next week and we could be back down the way, so we won’t get carried away.”
Jackson Irvine, Mark Brown and Michael Gardyne joined Fraser on the winning side.
