Seeing Charlie Grant trecking off the pitch with his boots and legs caked in mud was one of the most pleasing sights from last week’s friendly with Shamrock Rovers.
It seems ages since he was teaming up with Simon Ferry in the Celtic youth side and showing all the promise in the world.
A long line of recurring injuries all related to the pubic bone have put Grant’s career on hold but the midfielder has refused to buckle and after almost three years without playing is back in action.
Celtic awarded the 20-year-old a years extension to his contract last summer, with Grant hoping that he can get his career back on track.
He said: “For three and a half years I’ve just concentrated on getting myself fit, playing for Celtic or making the first team isn’t near the top of my list, just getting myself fit and playing is the priority.
“After playing for Scotland in Poland at the European Championships I was on a high, the injuries got me down but the people at Celtic have helped me through.
“They stuck by me for three years, they’ve looked after me and gave me a years extension to my contract this season. I’ve got a few months now to prove myself and repay them.
“I came through the ranks with guys like Darren O’Dea, Paul Caddis and Scott Cuthbert and it’s great to see their careers develop, I’ve been unfortunate with bad luck but it’s good that others from that team have made the step up.
“When I look at them I think ‘I’m at their level’ and hopefully I can kick on and end up where they are.”
A conventional leg break or cruciate injury may have been more bearable for the midfielder whose development has been hampered by osteitus pubis.
A google search would be more useful than any description that I could give but other players, noticably Steven Gerrard, have overcome the problem in the past.
Grant explained: “It started off as osteitus pubis but the more that it was looked into it there was different problems. As one problem got sorted another would start. It’s been a hellish time picking up different injuries.
“People still ask about me which is great, that means that I made an impression before I got injured.
“Celtic have stuck by me through the couple of years that I’ve been out and hopefully I can get back to being the player that I was before the injury.
“I don’t really have any targets in my mind at the moment beyond getting fit again, once I’ve managed that we’ll see what else develops.
“At the moment I’m getting 10 or 20 minutes here or there in games, it doesn’t matter where the games are or what the weather is like, getting on the park means everything to me.
“Whatever happens regarding another contract is down to Celtic but I’ll give it my best shot to get an extention.
“Simon Ferry has came through a lot, he was out for two and half years with me. He’s turned the corner and is doing well at Swindon. When I look at him I just say ‘my luck has got to change sometime’ hopefully my luck is changing and I can just kick on.”