Football: Callum Booth keen to return from injury before season end

The St Johnstone player is yet to feature at all this campaign after undergoing a double Achilles operation last summer.

A groin issue has delayed his comeback further and he told Courier Sport that, despite aiming to be back before the final fixtures next month, it might not be possible.

He said: “Obviously, time is ticking away and there has not been too much improvement.

“We will see if I can get back – it would be a great bonus – but we will just have to wait and see.

“I am not putting a timescale on it and I will just try to feel better and get to the bottom of it.

READ MORE: Double winner Booth delighted to sign deal at St Johnstone

“There were a lot of new signings and good players came in last season and it would have been good to play with some of them as well.

“It has been so frustrating and it has been nearly a year I have been out.

“It has been really tough, very frustrating, but it is part of the game I suppose.

“Up until this year, I have been fairly lucky with injuries.”

The Achilles injury had been “bothering me for years”, with the issue getting worse towards the end of last season.

Booth played 34 games for St Johnstone last term but missed the final four fixtures after coming off against former side Livingston.

Callum Booth was celebrating at Hampden Park on Sunday as St Johnstone lifted the Betfred Cup after victory over Livingston. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.

He added: “It was when I was at Raith [2013/14] that I started feeling them [his Achilles].

“I did not do too much about it and struggled on for a couple of years.

“The physiotherapist at Partick Thistle gave me exercises and treatments.

“I have been getting injections, trying all sorts, and I have got a rusty old machine from the gym in the garage and I go on that a couple of times a week to help them.

“I have tried shockwave therapy, acupuncture, insoles in my boots and the last option was to get the operation.”

Initially, it was thought the surgery would keep Booth on the sidelines for up to six months.

However, during his comeback, he injured his groin in a friendly, with medical staff trying to resolve that issue to allow him to play before the end of the season.

Booth, from Haddington, joined the Perth side in 2019 after a move to Bury broke down when the Gigg Lane side were expelled from the English Football League.

READ MORE: Scottish League Cup win 'proudest moment of my career' for Callum Booth

The 31-year-old signed with St Johnstone until the following January before inking a contract extension.

In his second season at McDiarmid Park, he helped the side to an historic cup double – defeating Livingston in the final of the Scottish League Cup and Hibernian in the final of the Scottish Cup.

He said: “I’m lucky I have got another year on my contract, so, that is good. It is always frustrating being out injured but I am definitely lucky that I have got another year.”