http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/992511

 

DONS midfielder Jamie Smith will decide if he faces Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday.

 

Smith made his long-awaited comeback to full training this week after more than two months out with a calf injury.

 

But the Dons management team refuse to rush Smith into a premature return on Saturday, for fear it could harm his recovery.

 

And Dons assistant boss Jimmy Nicholl revealed the midfielder will have the final say.

 

He said: “Jamie is at the stage now where he will decide on his fitness.

 

“He will tell us if he is fit enough to play in Inverness. We trust his judgement.

 

“Normally with your good players the tendency is to push them straight into the first team.

 

“But in Jamie’s case we won’t, due to his past experiences with injury and the fact the team is playing well.

 

“There is no way we will push him because Jamie has had too many breakdowns and disappointments for that.â€

 

Midfielder Smith returned to full training on Monday along with fellow crock Sone Aluko.

 

Smith has not started a game since August 30, although he came on as a late substitute against Falkirk in October.

 

“Just the fact that Jamie is back in training is a boost,†said Nicholl.

 

“If at the end of this week’s training he says to Jimmy Calderwood ‘I feel fine and don’t need a reserve game, consider me for selection ‘ that will be fantastic.

 

“But if he says he is not ready, we will accept that as well.

 

“His ability on the park is fantastic, and Jamie is a great asset to the team when he is fit.

 

“Jamie is a joy to have in the team when he is on his game and his head is right.

 

“I just hope he is back at the stage where his fitness is fine and he is ready to play.â€

 

Teenage winger Aluko is expected to return for the trip to the Highlands after two weeks out with a hamstring injury.

 

Nicholl said: “We are getting our form back, so to have players like Sone and Jamie in the squad will only enhance our chances of keeping that run going.â€

Just say no jamie!

Just say no jamie!

 

 

I'm hoping that's what he says. But how long is reasonable to leave him out?

 

I'm hoping that's what he says. But how long is reasonable to leave him out?

 

Until he gets his match fitness up in the reserves

Get another weeks training under his belt and a couple of reserve appearances.

Why can't a physio or doctor make the call here?

Why can't a physio or doctor make the call here?

 

 

Because they've fucked it up so often in the past.

Why can't a physio or doctor make the call here?

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

If we are paying these people to look after this apsect then why are they not making this decision ? If its becuase we don't trust them or we are trying to punish them then why are they still employed?  It may seem like common sense that a player knows himself best when it comes to injury but then why the fuck employ specialists. This is a primary school attempt to detach responsibility incase something goes wrong.

 

I'd have thought the doctor and physios were employed to get to the root of the problem (ho ho), then come up with a rehab plan. The physio will probably have told the management Smith is ready to play as far as he/she is concerned. Ultimately it's the player who decides if he's going to play as obviously he knows himself if he's ready.

I'd have thought the doctor and physios were employed to get to the root of the problem (ho ho), then come up with a rehab plan. The physio will probably have told the management Smith is ready to play as far as he/she is concerned. Ultimately it's the player who decides if he's going to play as obviously he knows himself if he's ready.

 

I'm not so sure about that fact. Players are not medically qualified (unless they are Kenny Deuchar of course) to make that assessment in my opinion

I'm not so sure about that fact. Players are not medically qualified (unless they are Kenny Deuchar of course) to make that assessment in my opinion

 

They may not be medically qualified but the player knows their body and they'll know if they're ready to play again.  The physio can only go by how the player has reacted to treatment, presumably Smith hasn't had any bad reaction, thus he/she reckons the player's good to go.

 

The only person who will know 100% if he feels up to it is Smith himself.  At this stage of recovery the physio will only act in an advisory role.  That's my take on it anyway.

Agreed. In borderline cases a player will often be asked to make a call on their fitness.

Agreed. In borderline cases a player will often be asked to make a call on their fitness.

 

Exactly, a doctor/physio can't feel what the player does.

Agreed. In borderline cases a player will often be asked to make a call on their fitness.

 

I think so too. The medics (I am in no way defending their alleged ability btw) will have diagnosed the problem and assessed his ability to return to full training. That'll be the extent of their involvement.

 

If he is fit for full training that by no means he is fit for a match. He shouldn't even be considered.

Evening Express says he won't feature today.

So what's he going to be wrong with him by the time the Jambo game arrives?

 

I'm going to go with Necrotizing fasciitis, just because it's funny and hard to spell correctly.

 

As with everything in life medicine isn't an exact science.

That's why I would never trust half the sh*te that Aberdeen University offer up as "doctors" and always get at least 2 opinions.

A wee bit bitter and twisted nt?  I take it you are speaking about personal experience about the quality of Doctors who qualify from Aberdeen University.

So what's he going to be wrong with him by the time the Jambo game arrives?

 

I'm going to go with Necrotizing fasciitis, just because it's funny and hard to spell correctly.

 

 

BUKKAKE!

 

Again.

A wee bit bitter and twisted nt?  I take it you are speaking about personal experience about the quality of Doctors who qualify from Aberdeen University.

 

Nah, went to uni with most of them and married one

Nah, went to uni with most of them and married one

 

So "yes" then.