Forres Mechanics striker Lee Fraser on return from injury
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FORRES Mechanics striker Lee Fraser is coming to the end of the long, long road to recovery.
The 26-year-old was sidelined for 19 months with a knee injury and, although he has been back playing since October, admitted he is yet to feel back to his absolute best.
Fraser underwent cruciate ligament and cartilage surgery to repair the serious damage to his right knee which he sustained in January, 2018.
It was the second bad injury of the Burghead brickie’s career, having missed half of Mechanics’ title-winning 2011-12 campaign after shattering his left kneecap in a training accident.
His twin brother Graham, who plays centre back for Forres, successfully returned from a cruciate operation three years ago.
Meanwhile Lee has his career, both on and off the pitch, to think about every time he steps over the white line.
He said: “When I was off injured all I wanted to do was come back and play.
“But you have got to think about the more important things like work and later life.
“When you are playing well you don’t want to go off but sometimes you just have to take it on the chin and not play as much. It’s just one of those things.”
Fraser has picked up a few bashes and scrapes since returning for Forres, including going off just after half-time in a 2-0 victory against Wick.
Despite that, he was back in the thick of the action as he was awarded man of the match a week later against Formartine United.
“The Formartine game was probably the best I have played since I came back from injury,” he added.
“I did a test before the game and got the all-clear and thankfully it paid off.
“I’ve been struggling since coming back from injury. Strikers are based on goals and nothing has been going in for me, so I was quite happy to get one.
“It was hard work playing up top on my own. It’s a hard battle. But that’s the way we want to play so I’ve got to get on with it.”
The aim now for Fraser and Forres is to look up the Highland League table.
He added: “We have to try and move up the league and get on a good run. We’ve not been doing very well lately.
“It would be fine to get on a wee run.”
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