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COLLIN SAMUEL Collin Samuel has revealed how the knee operation he had last month addressed a problem he’d been suffering with for at least 11 years, writes Graeme Dey.

Samuel went under the knife following the December 5 defeat by Kilmarnock.

And in the process of dealing with the relatively minor cartilage injury the Trinidad and Tobago internationalist was suffering from, the surgeon also dealt with an issue which had been hindering Samuel since his late teens.

“When I went for a scan on my knee they discovered some cartilage damage,” said the former Dundee United player.

“But the guy also noticed that I’d done the same thing when I was younger.

“I remember hurting my knee when I was 16-17 but never went for surgery or anything like that.

“And I was aware that my knee never went back straight after that injury.

“As I understand it, the surgeon dealt with that problem at the same time as this latest injury and as a result I should have better flexibility in the knee.

“I can’t tell at the moment as the joint is still a bit sore. But I’m told I’ll come back very much stronger for the operation.

“I saw the specialist last week and he gave me the okay to start doing strength work,” continued Samuel.

“And I’m aiming to be ready to play again in around three weeks—which means I could be back in time to face Dundee United, if we get through against Forfar in the cup, which would be great.

“That would be only my second game against them.

“The first one wasn’t too good because we lost and I missed out on a Co-operative Insurance Cup victory over them because of injury.”

Samuel admitted the past fortnight has been difficult for him—and not just because he’s been recovering from the knee op.

“I’ve been in Scotland for a few years now,” he said.

“But this is the coldest I have ever felt.

“Coming to the ground last week it was minus 14—which was something else.”