Sierra Leone and Partick Thistle right-back Mustapha Dumbuya made his return to competitive action as the Jags thrashed Highland League side Formartine United 4-0 in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
The 29-year-old, who has not played since rupturing his Achilles tendon last summer, was introduced in the 46th minute replacing Callum Booth.
Dumbuya, who was one of the club’s most impressive and consistent performers before his Achilles problem has said he is ready to play despite acknowledging the niggling pain from his injury will remain for at least another 12 months.
“I’m nearly at full-fitness but I’m still getting niggles here and there. I knew it was going to happen and it was never something that was going to just go away,” Dumbuya said.
After his standing ovation from the Firhill crowd as he made his first competitive appearance of the season, the Sierra Leone international is determined to play football again.
Dumbuya told footballsierraleone.net, “I’m happy because is another step forward to full recovery, I felt good during the 45 mins but still got a long way to go.”
“The surgeon told me the niggling pain is something that is always going to happen, but I’m ready to deal with it.
However, the flying Partick Thistle defender got his first 45 minutes of football under his belt in last Friday’s friendly defeat to Lokeren.
The Jags team: Cerny, Booth (Dumbuya, 45’), Barton, Devine, Elliott, Osman, Welsh (McCarthy, 75’), Lawless, Erskine, Amoo (Azeez, 62’), Doolan.
Subs: Ridgers, Gordon, McDaid, Edwards.
Formatine United: MacDonald, Young, Smith, Lawson, Crawford, Ferries, Rodger (Gauld, 81’), Masson, Wood, Anderson (Gethins, 71’), Barbour.
Subs: Reid, Dingwall, Jamieson, Berton, Michie
@football_sierra – @bittar32
Sierra Leone | Highlights - 