Cameron back to lead Elgin City
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LEADING Elgin City out at Hampden was the perfect way for Brian Cameron to mark his return to action after an injury-hit summer.
City’s longest serving player damaged his knee in a pre-season game and has been left kicking his heels on the sidelines while his team-mates have built up a solid start to the campaign.
On Saturday, Cameron was declared fit and fired straight into Elgin’s starting line-up for the visit to Queen’s Park.
As the Black and Whites vice-captain, and with skipper Darryl McHardy out with a dislocated shoulder, ‘Soapy’ took over the armband and proudly led his side out on to the hallowed turf at the national stadium.
“It was good to lead us. That’s something I’ve never done at Hampden before,” he said. “It was a wee bit nerve-wracking in my first game back leading us out in a stadium like that but a great honour as well.”
Cameron couldn’t quite captain his side to victory as they were held to a goal-less draw by the undefeated Spiders.
Elgin dominated the first hour of the game with top scorer Shane Sutherland hitting a post, but were made to hang on for a point in the end by the battling Glaswegians.
Such has been Elgin’s injury woes, summer signing Conor O’Keefe did his ankle ligaments in an early cup game and recent loan signing Daniel MacKay picked up a similar injury which saw him stretchered off in the last home game against Stenhousemuir – thankfully not a broken ankle as first feared.
With both wide men missing, Cameron was asked to further right than his normal central midfield slot and admitted the big Hampden pitch did take its toll on legs short of match fitness.
“I was blowing pretty hard. As much running as I did before it, match fitness is different. I got to about an hour then I was just out on my feet but I managed through the whole game.
“That will stand me in good stead I think. I will be match sharp in no time.”
Now in his testimonial year and his 13th season in Elgin’s first team, the 27-year-old veteran of nearly 400 appearances is delighted to be back in action.
Carried off in a friendly against Clach, he feared being out for months but proved to be a quick healer.
“It’s been a long time in coming. It’s felt like a long time and seeing the boys doing well I was itching to get back but I’ve been patient with myself and I’m good to go now.
“When the injury happened and even afterwards, I feared the worst but I got lucky in a sense. I was able to run and do the gym two weeks after doing it so it’s just been a bit rehab, getting me back to speed.
“I was back training the week before last and then straight into the game on Saturday and I felt good.
“I’ve been to all the games except Annan away, Darryl has been the same and everyone is in it together, all supporting each other. It’s a good dressing room to be around this year.
“I'll be buzzing to get going on Borough Briggs again this weekend though it will be a tough game. Edinburgh will be up there challenging.
Updates from Saturday's Elgin v Edinburgh game on Twitter via @SPP_cchristie and report and reaction here on the Northern Scot website after the game.
