03/10/2008 - Strachan has been to hell and back
When you have endured the tortuous time with injuries Gavin Strachan has, it is unsurprising he remembers exactly how many minutes he played in his first league start for seven months.For Strachan, every minute he gets under his belt is a massive stride forward; every second is precious.
The Notts County midfielder played for 77 minutes in the 2-1 win against Aldershot at Meadow Lane last Saturday before being substituted for Jay Smith.
Not 76. Not 78. And certainly not around 80 minutes. He played for 77 minutes exactly.
Strachan admits it was a special feeling walking out of the tunnel at Meadow Lane and into the thick of a competitive league battle for the first time since he limped off the same stage with a hamstring injury in February.
And he says it was made even more special because the Magpies managed to claim their first win of the season in League Two on a day all paid tribute to the most successful manager in the club's history, Jimmy Sirrel.
He said: "It felt longer than seven months. It was just nice to get back playing a competitive game.
"It was even better to be a part of a winning team.
"The atmosphere was great. It was a big day for the club so to top it off with a win, our first of the season, made the day.
"It was looking like we might have to settle for another draw.
"They were not a bad team at all. They were very good.
"The general feeling was they are one of the best teams that we have played so far this season.
"To beat a team like that is satisfying - and the way we stuck at it."
Strachan believes the Magpies' dramatic injury-time victory against the Shots, courtesy of Richard Butcher's goal, is down to the players' fitness - and also a never-say-die attitude in the dressing-room.
It was the third time in three games they have scored a late goal, following the draws at Accrington and Exeter City.
"I think it owes a lot to how fit we are feeling as a team," he added.
"It was similar to when I was at Peterborough.
"We always used to score a lot of late goals because we were fitter than most teams. It's a great advantage for us to have.
"If it had happened the odd time you would say it was a coincidence.
"But when it happens a lot you have to put it down to the willpower, strength and the physical fitness of the boys."
Strachan is now looking forward to establishing himself as an influential figure once again in the Notts side - the kind of role he was starting to perform before he was cruelly hit by injuries.
"It was a massive step forward for me.
"It was really enjoyable to be out there in a proper match again and to be able to contribute to the team," he said.
"Hopefully as the weeks go by the contributions will get bigger.
"I am looking forward to being able to have an even bigger impact in the side.
"I am just missing match sharpness because we don't have a reserve team.
"It's not ideal in terms of your rehab and it's frustrating but you have to get on with it and work hard in training.
"But I am hoping that the fitness will come quite quickly now I am playing. The games come thick and fast."
He is aiming to play the full 90 minutes against manager-less Port Vale tomorrow, and help inspire a second successive league win.
He said: "I can't wait. I am really looking forward to it.
"It's great to be able to look forward to games rather than having an endless nothingness.
"I am feeling like a kid again that has just started playing.
"They are having problems but they can sometimes be the hardest teams to play against because they are fighting for their lives.
"There will be no way we will underestimate them. We know what has got to be done and we will roll our sleeves up and get it done.
"It would be good to get back-to-back wins but we are only going to get that by the same amount of hard work that we have been putting in."
Strachan has grown accustomed to working hard as he has recovered from a string of injury setbacks since arriving at Meadow Lane.
He has been to hell.
But now he is back.