LIGHT SHINES ONCE MORE FOR LEWIS

October 21, 2017. Home to Inverness. Lewis Toshney remembers the date very well. It was the last time he started a first-team match for Dundee United.

Lewis joined the Club in June 2016 as then Manager Ray McKinnon's first signing, and it is fair to say it hasn't gone as expected for the Dundonian due to knee and ankle injuries.

There is light at the end of the tunnel as the defender has successfully come through two recent bounce games. The aim now is simple - play as many games as possible between now and the summer.

Speaking to ArabZONE, Lewis said, "It has been a long road, and I have had dark times, but I now feel that I am finally ready to play games again on a regular basis.

"There have been times when I have sat in the dressing room and watched my teammates go out to train and play and it was devastating. It's been challenging, and there have been times that I have sat in the dressing room and cried. There are a few guys, like Tam Scobbie and Laurie Ellis amongst others who had to put an arm around and encourage me to keep going in my fitness battle."

Lewis now feels as fit as he has ever done in his time at Tannadice and know he needs to sit down with Head Coach Robbie Neilson and work out his future.

"The Gaffer has been first class with me since he came in. We have had countless conversation about my rehab and where I am going with my career, and I now need to sit down with him and look at the options available to me because the one thing I have to be doing is playing regularly between now and the end of the season. I would love to remain here at United beyond the end of this season, but realistically, my future might be elsewhere. If that is the case, I need to showcase myself and show teams that I am fit and ready to go again.

Toshney has no regrets about signing for United but looks back at his very first game and feels the writing was on the wall even then saying, "That first game, a bounce game against Cove and I managed to break my nose and miss the first few weeks. That kind of set the tone for me and It has been one thing after another since that."

The battle to show his fitness has returned is far from over for Lewis Toshney, but he sees his immediate and medium-term future remaining as a professional footballer.

"I have chatted with my family about my options during my time out. I had to; given how long it was dragging on, but I am determined to show my worth moving forward. Ideally, that would be here at Dundee United, but if not, I will go with no regrets and look to continue my career elsewhere."

Lewis chatted to ArabZONE, and members can view his interview here.