Keaghan Jacobs reveals hernia op recovery going well

Oct 28 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

KEAGHAN JACOBS is edging back to full fitness after a recent hernia operation and he admits he can’t wait to end his Saturday afternoon nightmare.

The talented Livingston midfielder confessed he is a frustrated spectator when he watches his team mates in action on a match-day while he is left kicking his heels in the stand.

But now three weeks after going under the knife the 21-year-old is eyeing a return to the top team although he accepts he may have to scrap to win back his spot due to the super form of his team-mates who sit joint top of the league with Brechin.

He said: “I’m getting towards full fitness now and I’m definitely feeling a lot better than I was.

“I’m slowly working back to fitness. To be honest I didn’t know I even had a hernia problem.

“I was playing on during the games but I knew something wasn’t quite right as I wasn’t playing as well as I know I can.

“I also felt a bit restricted, a bit sore and just not myself in games.

“It was gradually getting worse so I went to see a specialist about six weeks ago.

“I kept playing after the diagnosis for a few weeks until the international break last month when I went in for an operation.

“I’m not sure how long I’ll be out for but I’m coming along well, moving well and it will be more a case of weeks rather than months.

“I do feel a lot better now although I am still a little bit tender but everything seems to be back to normal again.

“I don’t expect to go straight back into the team when I’m fit again as the boys are doing well.

“If someone is playing well in my position all I can do is work as hard as I can to get back into the team and that is exactly what I intend to do.”

Jacobs has missed the last two matches as the Lions have returned to winning ways but he has revealed he hates watching the games from the stand.

“It is a nightmare going to the ground on a Saturday and not being involved in the team,” he explained to the Courier.

“I hate watching the boys playing the games and kicking the ball around. It is just so frustrating not being able to join in.

“The boys played really well to beat Stenhousemuir and although last weeks win over Peterhead was tighter than we would have liked, the most important thing was to get another three points under our belt.”

Last season the South African born star exclusively revealed to the Courier his hope of catching Scotland under-21 boss Billy Stark’s eye for a national team call-up.

The midfield dynamo was born in Johannesburg and holds a Dutch passport but has been in West Lothian since he was just nine-years-old.

Jacobs was schooled at St Margaret’s Academy in Livingston and is eligible for Scotland through the FIFA-approved law which states British passport holders born outside Scotland who have been schooled here for five years are eligible to be chosen for the national team.

As of yet Jacobs hasn’t had a call from the Scots camp but he has refused to give up hope on making his debut for the Dark Blues.

He added: “No-one has ever been in touch with me with regards to a chance with Scotland but I would love to play international football.

“It just depends on whether I can play well enough to catch the manager’s eye to give me a chance.”