CRAIG HALKETT has revealed he broke down in tears after being instructed his season was over.
The Hearts defender had already missed three months because of two hamstring issues.
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Then he noticed a “nightmare” marketing campaign ended by a knee harm suffered towards Dundee United on Christmas Eve.
Halkett, 27, by no means anticipated the twinge he felt in that Tannadice conflict would find yourself with him going through 9 months out – a prognosis he admits he’s struggled to come back to phrases with.
He mentioned: “This season has been a nightmare for me.
“I received an ankle operation after the Scottish Cup ultimate final 12 months and that put me behind the remainder of the boys in pre-season.
“I received again and did my hamstring, which wasn’t nice. Then I did it a second time and I used to be out once more.
“Within the sport at Tannadice, I used to be simply shielding the ball and I felt a slight wobble in my knee.
“It wasn’t agony or something prefer it, however I knew one thing wasn’t proper, like I had hyperextended it. It was a motion I might do loads of instances in a sport.
“So I’d by no means have imagined, at any level, that I might be going through 9 months out due to my cruciate.
“The week after I received the scan again, I used to be within the automotive when the physio known as to inform me the season was over.
“I burst into tears and it took a number of days to sink in as a result of I’ve by no means had a critical harm like this earlier than.
“It had been stop-start, however I knew I might be again in 4 or six weeks, which wasn’t the tip of the world.
“However making an attempt to come back to phrases with the information it was eight or 9 months was laborious to take.
“It’s now three weeks for the reason that surgical procedure and the whole lot has gone very well.
“I’ve been in a position to get off of the crutches, which is the primary milestone and I can now transfer a bit extra freely.
“I simply need to take it one step at a time as a result of I’ve a protracted street forward of me.”
Hearts are additionally lacking different key gamers, together with skipper Craig Gordon, Liam Boyce and Beni Baningime.
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However Halkett believes the remainder of his team-mates can maintain the third-placed Jambos on the right track for an additional crack at Europe subsequent season.
He added: “We now have had a horror season with accidents. I can’t keep in mind one prefer it.
“However it reveals how nicely the opposite boys have been taking part in with the place we’re within the league.
“While you weigh up the variety of video games we needed to play in the beginning of the season with European ties and the variety of accidents we had, we’ve executed nicely.
“It’s been an awesome run for the reason that World Cup. We’d like to get third and Europe is the goal once more.”
Halkett was within the stands on Saturday to see Stephen Humphrys rating among the best ever targets at Tynecastle.
Letting fly from inside his personal half, the striker’s shot sailed over Dundee United No 1 Mark Birighitti to seal a 3-1 win and open up a seven-point hole to Livingston in fourth.
Halkett was surprised the Wigan loanee had the audacity to attempt his luck from there, not to mention discover the online.
He mentioned: “I don’t suppose I’ve seen a greater objective since I joined the membership.
“In coaching he has a fierce shot on him, however I’ve by no means seen him attempt it from that distance earlier than, particularly not along with his weaker foot!
“I used to be within the stand and when he broke out from the 18-yard field, I used to be considering he ought to run to the nook and to not lose the ball.
“When it hit the online I had my fingers on my head as a result of I couldn’t consider he had tried it, by no means thoughts rating. It was an awesome objective.”
