Livingston boss David Martindale has joked that he will start calling Craig Sibbald "Lucky" after the midfielder's brutal run of misfortune this season.
The 26-year-old is back training and in contention for Sunday's home clash with Rangers but a string of illnesses and injuries has resulted in him making just 10 appearances this term.
The former Falkirk man, in his fourth season with the club, started the campaign by testing positive for covid with the gaffer admitting he's been catching up ever since.
Martindale admitted contracting the virus was particularly challenging for Sibbald, who has asthma, saying it took the best part of two months for him to recover.
Since then, he has endured hip, ankle and calf injuries as well as requiring nine stitches following a challenge against Dundee in September that left him with some nerve damage in his foot.
He made his return to the squad for last weekend's 1-1 draw away to St Mirren and Martindale said it's been a tough slog for the star this season.
He commented: "It’s been a hard road for Sibbs. I’ve thrown him in at times when I probably shouldn’t have but I needed bodies. He has asthma and he really struggled with covid and coming back into training.
“It took him about six to eight weeks to get back to where he was pre-covid. He was getting thrown into some big games and being asked to perform at the top of his game and it was a little bit unfair.
“He was superb in the League Cup game against St Mirren then picked up a hip injury, and then an ankle injury, ripped his calf open and got nerve damage in his foot, then came back and went over on his ankle.
“We’re going to start calling him ‘Lucky’ I think. I feel for him but he’s back in training now.”
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