Best has yet to come from ICT ace Doran after injury hell
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AARON Doran is eager to show Caley Thistle his best years are ahead of him – with a return to Ireland’s squad a longer-term target.
In a week when on-loan Swindon Town striker Miles Storey was snapped up by Aberdeen after scoring 13 goals, Inverness CT dealt in Dubliner Doran on a two-year deal, with an additional one-year option for the club.
Defender Lewis Horner (24) landed a one-year contract, while former Torquay United forward Alex Fisher, who was sidelined with an ankle injury shortly after his New Year arrival, has a six-month deal, again with a further one-year option for ICT.
Doran, who has been capped for his country’s under-21s, has endured a nightmare campaign.
A look into troubles with his left knee just after ICT’s Europa League ties with FC Astra were getting underway revealed the need for surgery and the entire season sidelined after one match against their Romanian opponents last July.
He explained that he feared that he’d be shown the door, but thanked manager John Hughes and chairman Kenny Cameron for keeping the faith and giving him a fresh start.
He said: “After the year that I have had with injuries it was good to get it done. The would like to thank the manager and chairman for standing by me for the last year and giving me a new deal.
“I had an area of cartilage that was missing and my kneecap was a bit loose, so that had been rubbing away at the cartilage and causing me pain. I had to get what’s called a microfracture surgery which helps a new cartilage to grow in. That all went really well and I’m happy with how I feel. I have not had any set-backs and my knee never swells up. I am lifting weights as heavy as I do with my right leg, so everything is going well.
“The irritation in my knee held me back a bit but I had felt really sharp and wanted to come in and make an impact and score more goals."
With his former ICT team-mates Jonny Hayes, now at Aberdeen, pressing for a place in Ireland’s Euro2016 squad for the finals in France in a few weeks, Doran hasn’t given up hope of pulling on the green and white for his country.
He said: “My mate Jonny Hayes has been called up for the Ireland squad. He’s a few years older than me, so that shows that it’s never too late. If I can have a good season you just never know what could happen. That’s my aim. Jonny and Adam Rooney, who has played here before, have shown me what can be achieved. That’s what I will be striving to do.”
*** Full story in this week's Highland News.
