LISTEN: McNaughton contemplated Caley Thistle retirement

Caley Thistle defender Kevin McNaughton says he had considered retiring from football in the dark days following his Achilles injury way back in August 2016.

The injury to the centre-back - shortly before his 34th birthday - was a personal blow and one to ICT, who had signed the experienced defender expecting him to be a mainstay of their back line.

But now McNaughton's nearing the end of his injury "nightmare" with the former Aberdeen, Cardiff and Wigan player delighted to be back in training.

"It's been a tough few months, obviously with being out for such a length of time - but just getting back to training has been brilliant, getting a touch of the ball, it's just good to get those signs that I'm getting back to my sharpness"

In a long and distinguished career, there was perhaps nothing which could've prepared Kevin for what happened following his injury in August's derby encounter in Inverness.

"It is the worst injury I've had by quite some way. Previously I'd only ever been out maybe two-or-three months. That said, I've worked hard, kept myself busy in the gym in maintaining my fitness side of things, that way the transition in coming back into full training hasn't been that difficult. It's been a nightmare but thankfully through the work I've come back a little bit sooner than expected which is good"

"I just tried to get into a routine, coming in early, keeping my fitness up, I've probably become best friends with the exercise bike - I must've done a fair number of miles on that over the months! - it had to be done"

"I'm one of these players who never used to enjoy going to the gym, but I really had to make a point of going, so when it came to this stage it wouldn't be as difficult to come back in"

"I now just have to carry on working hard to get myself up-to-speed over the next few weeks"

**"Mentally it's tough, you have to get to grips with it, the first month after the injury my head was all over the place - I even thought about retiring - but once I was back up-and-running, I just had to get on with it"**

"Mentally it's tough, you have to get to grips with it, the first month after the injury my head was all over the place - I even thought about retiring - but once I was back up-and-running, I just had to get on with it"

Kevin says the support of manager Richie Foran was invaluable to pushing him along the road to recovery:-

"I tried to help out, especially with the younger players, alongside Duncan Shearer. It can be soul destroying the first few months of your injury when there's little you can do, but I tried to keep the spirits up - especially given our difficult situation (as a club)"

"There'd be no point in me walking about dour-faced when we're in a tough situation, we need to keep the morale up"

• #InvernessCT