Doctors had to shave my bone to beat infection – I feared my season was over

JUST 12 months ago, Ross McCrorie was paralysed by pain.

A rare bone infection left him crippled in agony, unable to even walk.
Now, after making a miraculous recovery, he’s strolling all the way to Germany.

3

3

But before setting off for the Euros, the Scotland star lifted the lid on his year from hell.

McCrorie had just arrived at his new club Bristol City when he was struck down.

Two months of tests followed before the former Aberdeen defender was diagnosed with osteomyelitis.

McCrorie revealed: “I was diagnosed with a bone infection, osteomyelitis, at the start of the season.

“I was out for six, seven months. It was a turbulent time for me, really traumatic.

“For the first two months it was just excruciating pain. It was a constant stabbing pain and I was just popping pills.

“I couldn’t move my leg, my left leg was basically disabled.

“I couldn’t get my socks on. So it was two months of testing and I was in a lot of pain during that period.

“We finally got to the bottom of it and I needed an operation to basically cut out the infection. It was intrusive, they had to come in the side and go through some muscles to get to the bone.

“I had to have a bone shaved down and it was awkward because the infection was so deep in my pelvis.

“After that we had to rebuild my whole left side.

“To get myself back through the rehab, I really need to hand it to the staff at Bristol City. They’ve got me back in time. It’s such a relief.

“The surgeons left me with a meaty scar but I can’t thank them enough.”

At the time of surgery, McCrorie wasn’t sure if he’d ever play football again.

He’d certainly written off his chances this season — and his hopes of making it to this summer’s Euros.

But after the operation was declared a complete success, the 26-year-old threw himself into his rehab.

He was walking again within five days, after doctors told him it would be six weeks.

He was back playing in January, after specialists said the earliest would be March.

All the while, McCrorie’s hopes of making Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad steadily grew.

McCrorie said: “At the time I never knew how serious it was, I was in a lot of pain.

“You are worried about what they tell you next.

“I was in a hotel for the first six weeks of moving to Bristol and this all happened three weeks after the last Scotland camp last summer.

“It was just bad luck, it could happen to anyone, I was told.

“It was difficult, I didn’t know what was going to happen, when I was going to be back, and I was stuck in this hotel.

“Once we got to the bottom of it I thought the season would be a write-off.

“I was told I wouldn’t walk for six weeks, but I was walking within five days.

“I wasn’t supposed to be back playing until March.

“So to be back by January was a credit to the work they did with me.

“I just worked my socks off every day.

“My focus was always on Bristol and then whatever came after was a bonus.

“I managed to get 20-odd games in the second half of the season and I was really happy with that because at one point I didn’t know if I’d play again that season.

“Having been involved last summer, the Euros were at the back of my mind, I’m not going to lie.”

As his rehab progressed and his leg improved, Scotland became a real focus for McCrorie.

And when Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey both sustained season-ending injuries, the right-back truly began to believe.

Now, a year on from fearing the absolute worst, McCrorie has every right to be dreaming of a start against Germany in Munich on June 14.

He smiled: “For any Scottish player it was always a target.

“My focus was on Bristol, getting back playing to the best of my ability.

“Make sure I perform to a high level and make it hard for the gaffer to leave me out.

“But we aren’t looking too far ahead.

“As a footballer you are taking everything in your stride.

“We’ve got different targets in training.

“Right now it’s about getting tactics from the gaffer.

“We’ve got two friendlies coming up, so they are the focus to start with — make sure we perform to a high level, implement the tactics the gaffer wants.

“And when it comes to Germany, the week before the focus is on that.”

Over the course of the last two days, Steve Clarke’s squad have gathered in Glasgow.

The group of 28 will be whittled down to 26, with two unlucky ones set to stay behind.

Yet, ahead of our two final warm-up matches against Gibraltar and Finland, McCrorie insisted: “There is no real focus on that, to be honest.

“I think we’re all enjoying and living in the moment, being back with each other and catching up.

“It’s been a long season. We’re just focusing on the training and what will be, will be.”

McCrorie also insists he is ready to answer Steve Clarke’s SOS at right-back.

He is desperate to repay Clarke’s faith by starring in the tournament opener against hosts Germany.

McCrorie said: “Aaron and Nathan have been such top performers for Scotland — especially in this campaign.

“Hopefully they get back from injury and then get themselves fit. But it’s an opportunity for me and I’m grateful to be able to get back playing in good shape.

“I’ve played since January and only missed one game. I’ve not had any niggles or anything and I’m in really good shape.

“I’ve played right wing-back all season at Bristol City.

“The last few years I’ve been right-back or right wing-back at Aberdeen and Bristol City so the position is nothing new for me.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page