St Johnstone striker Collin Samuel yesterday signed a new one-year contract with the Perth club before catching a flight to his homeland for the close season, writes Eric Nicolson.
A couple of months in Trinidad would be most people’s idea of a fine way to spend the summer.
However for Samuel his stay in his native Caribbean will be as much about recuperation as relaxation.
Saints fans did not see the best of the former Falkirk and Dundee United man in the second half of the season, and he puts that down to the knee operation underwent in December.
It was a stop-start campaign thereafter and he never regained the form he showed in the early stages.
Samuel puts that down to the after-effects of the operation, which he hopes will be put behind him by the time he returns to Scotland for pre-season training.
“I’d had a hamstring problem in the past but it has been fine this season” he said.
“The operation I had in December on cartilage in my knee has given me more problems.
“I’m going back to Trinidad but it won’t be a holiday.
“I’ll be doing strength work on my knee.
“I don’t have the same power in it that I had before the operation and I want that back for next season.
“I will go to my former club in Trinidad and do my rehab there.”
There was no arm-twisting needed by Saints boss Derek McInnes to persuade Samuel to sign a new deal.
He continued, “There has been interest in me from England but I’m happy to stay here and hopefully get more goals.”