I feared my career was over but FIVE surgeries in 12 months saved me – it was worst time of my life says SPFL Prem star
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UCHE IKPEAZU admits he feared he'd never kick a football again.
The St Johnstone striker made his long-awaited debut in Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic — a year after last playing a game.
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Uche Ikpeazu returned to Scottish football last summer
Credit: Perthshire Picture Agency
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He only made his first appearance at the weekend
Credit: © Perthshire Picture Agency. NO SYNDICATION. REMAINS WITH PERTHSHIRE PICTURE AGENCY
Ikpeazu has undergone FIVE knee operations in 12 months in a bid to discover what was causing him crippling pain.
Boss Simo Valakari has been desperate to get the powerful number nine fit to feature in Saints' relegation battle — and Uche is up for answering his call.
He said: 'That was my first game since April last year. To be back on the pitch after such a horrible time is a blessing.
'It was probably the worst time of my life, my career — not knowing when I was going to come back or IF I was going to come back.
'For me, it was my faith that kept me going.
'Mistakes were made, not by myself, and things were left out of my hands.
'I did everything I could and I couldn't come back.
'If not for Dr Iain Murray, his thoroughness and how meticulous he was, I don't know when I'd be back. Because it was that tedious, it was difficult to resolve and get to the bottom of.
'A big thank you to him — he saved me.
'I didn't think I'd play this season and, to be honest, I didn't know when.
Will Adam Idah still be at Celtic next season after failing to take Kyogo's jersey
'I had an infection that wasn't resolved, it was hiding in there. It went on and on, another four surgeries after that.
'It was just a nightmare.
'Something so simple ended up taking me out for so long. I would have been back four, five months ago if it was properly sorted out.
'I have to thank St Johnstone as a football club, the owners, the manager, my teammates.
'They have been incredibly supportive. Some days you come in and think: Where do I go from here?
'I am grateful to be back.
'The club sorted me out to see Dr Murray in Edinburgh and he analysed the knee, had another surgery and found what was going on.
'It's a long story, maybe it was wear and tear over the years, I don't know. Fighting defenders, battling.
'Caitlin, our physio, is amazing. It was great that the club brought Caitlin in, she's very thorough and takes her job seriously, which is important for a physio, and you can't say that about everyone.
'She was able to get me back to rehabilitation. Early mornings, late afternoons, it's been a lot of hard hours.
How St Johnstone stars rated against Celtic
Andy Fisher - The hero last time the teams met but helpless as the roof caved in on Saints during a mad 12-minute first-half spell where they conceded four. Couldn't do anything about Jota's fifth either. 6
Sam Curtis - Teenager was pitched up against Maeda and started well, but fell short cutting out McGregor's pass before the Japanese hitman scored the Hoops' second. Endured a tough afternoon after that. 5
Daniels Balodis - Wore a face mask to play after breaking his nose in training. Penalised for shoving Idah before Kirk's chalked off goal, then benefitted from a VAR check on collision with Forrest. 5
Sven Sprangler - Midfielder stepped in at centre back due to lack of bodies in defence so was left to joust with Idah but was on the wrong side when he slammed home the third. 5
Barry Douglas - Shocker of a goal kick in the build up to Celtic's opener sparked the collapse which saw Saints hammered. Struggled to deal with the pace before being hooked at half-time. 4
Stephen Duke-McKenna - Attacker was deployed as a left wing-back and was lively, but struggled to make his mark in the game. Got pickpocketed by Johnston for Celtic's opener after dodgy kick out. 4
Jason Holt - Constantly burst a gut trying to get close to Hatate but struggled to cope with the intensity of Celtic's attacking play. Found life difficult against the waves of attack once the first went in. 5
Victor Griffith - Tasked with man-marking Engels all over the pitch and brought real energy to that role. Made a great block to deny McGregor in the first half but couldn't hold back the tide. 6
Graham Carey - Saints best creative outlet but they didn't get him on the ball high up the pitch nearly enough to make an impact. Couldn't make the few set pieces they got count either. 5
Nicky Clark - Tasked with being the link man up top and stopping McGregor but couldn't get close enough to the Celtic captain. Was unable to offer anything up top as his team were swamped. 4
Adama Sidibeh - Brings energy and power but suffers from a real lack of quality. When they needed him to hold it up and stretch the game he couldn't deliver. Out of his depth. 3
Subs:
Makenzie Kirk (Clark 46) - Thought he'd scored an absolute screamer to give the Saints fans something to cheer before VAR chalked it off 5
Benji Kimpioka (Sidibeh 46) - Struggled to cause Celtic's defence any trouble 3
Taylor Steven (Douglas 46) - Sub given the tough task of shackling Forrest then Kuhn 4
Josh McPake (Carey 68) - On with his team well beat 3
Uche Ikpeazu (Duke-McKenna 75) - Debut - at last! 2
'I really wanted to get myself to this game, that was my target.
'I really want to help this team, I believe I can help this team and get us out of this position.
'I love football and I've missed it so much. I'm excited.'
Valakari arrived at McDiarmid Park in October, with former Hearts man Ikpeazu promising to be fit within weeks, only to suffer setback after setback.
There's no doubt Saints have missed a striker of his type, able to hold the ball up and bring others into play.
And Ikpeazu is determined to repay the Finn and prove to everyone he's not just in Perth to pick up wages.
He said: 'The manager has been amazing. It's been a very difficult situation, obviously.
'I told the gaffer I want to be involved. I accelerated the process quicker than I was supposed to.
'Football is a business, the club is paying me and I can't play.
'I felt horrible about that situation because I'm not just here to pick up a salary.
'They've been supportive even though it's been a difficult situation for the club, on and off the pitch.
'From a business perspective they can't get their No 9 playing.
'I think EVERY team needs a No 9! That's my opinion.
Premiership manager celebrates in pub
'You need that sort of striker that can bring people into play and get the team up the pitch.
'I just want to repay the faith and patience that has been shown to me.
'I have no doubt that I will be able to show my quality. You don't lose that overnight.
'The most important thing is the team. I just want the team to be safe.
'Whether I play or not, whether I start or come off the bench, I just want the team to solidify a place in this division.
'I don't want to play in the Championship. I've played at a high level most of my career now so I want to stay up.
'There are 15 points to play for, it's very much possible especially when we're playing against the teams we are fighting against.
'I'm really positive about it. I want to make a difference. I believe in myself as a striker, I've never hidden that.
'I just want to show St Johnstone now what I can do.
'The most important thing was getting myself right and I have done that.
'The Celtic result was disappointing, we capitulated. We started well but made a mistake and they punished us.
'Everyone knows what Celtic can do when that happens — look at the Aberdeen result in the League Cup semi when things go like that.
'We have to move on and focus on Motherwell now.'
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