The 30-year-old is out of contract at Dens Park but wants to stay. Scott Fraser says that his stay in Dundee has been a nightmare. But he’s eager to try again after enduring another surgery to fully resolve the issue that has plagued him since October. Fraser is in the final few days of his one-year contract at Dens Park and has had attention from “five or six” clubs ahead of the new season. However, whether he remains with his hometown club or moves on will have to wait until the new season. His immediate goal is to get back on his feet and workout effectively without pain.

That’s after seven months of massive frustration following initial surgery to mend a groin problem picked up at Motherwell last October.

‘Never got chance to heal’

Fraser speaks exclusively to Courier Sport to explain what happened. “Quite quickly after the first op, when we started the rehab, I was feeling pain that I hadn’t had before,” stated the surgeon. “I was told that was probably just from the operation; wait till it calms down. “This persisted until the second operation last week. “I would see headlines suggesting I was injured again or had broken down. That was frustrating since I would have had to return first to break down again. “I just never had the chance to heal.

“And then I’d be in pain for the next two or three hours.” “Then do the same in training. I attempted three or four times to train through it, but each time I felt a clicking feeling. And then there’d be blood and bruises, which was kind of mental.”

Fresh op

Fraser returned to the Dundee team for the final four games of the season, playing twice as a substitute, before undergoing surgery again last week. And the early signals are positive. “I went to see Professor Schilders in London, I knew a couple of boys from Ipswich who had been to him,” Fraser told the reporter. “He detected it promptly, and I underwent the operation last week. “I am feeling slightly better. I’m in a lot less discomfort now than I was after my first operation. “I could scarcely stand up after the first surgery. Whereas now, I’m back on my feet and out on walks. “So I’m hoping that it has helped me.”

Tony Docherty

Fraser told Courier Sport that he was optimistic he’d be remaining at Dundee for a second season after returning to the team from Hearts in April. However, manager Tony Docherty was fired less than 24 hours after the campaign concluded, leaving a new structure in place with Steven Pressley as head coach. “I’ve spoken with the manager [Tony Docherty],” Fraser stated.

“I apologised to him. I feel a bit of responsibility because I wasn’t fit – I do feel if I had been fit I’d be able to help a lot.

“And I know how much effort and work he put into getting the club to agree my deal eventually.

“And then for me to only be able to start one game, and not be able to help in the bad moments.

“I feel genuinely bad for that.

“The season for me was a disaster, really.”

What next at Dundee?

So what next? Has there been word from Dundee?

“We’ve not had any conversations since the manager lost his job. That was a bit of a bombshell because I think the plan was they wanted me.

“I think the idea still is they would like me to go in and get fit and train with them during pre-season.

“I think it is planned that we do have a conversation.

“But right now I’m really not jumping at anything, just focusing on making sure that I get this right.

‘Teams have reached out’

There are other choices, though. Fraser continued, “My phone has been active, especially since I put up the post following my surgery. “I’ve had coaches and managers on, and my agency has told me that a number of teams would be delighted to have me in for preseason. “So that has been rather heartwarming. I can’t lie, there was some concern that Scotty would be harmed again.

“Whereas, it wasn’t that he was hurt again; it was that he never had the opportunity to recover from the surgery. “So that’s been quite positive. Five or six teams have reached out. “So it’s just about me now just focussing on making sure that I heal the best I can and then be ready for any opportunities that come.”

Russell Martin influence

However, fitness isn’t his exclusive concern. Fraser, who has returned to his homeland of Dundee, wants to give back. The 30-year-old midfielder still has plenty of playing time ahead of him. However, coaching has been calling for quite some time. Fraser founded the Control Football Academy with the support of one current Dundee player and one former Dundee player. Fraser confesses he caught the coaching bug down south while working for newly appointed Rangers manager Russell Martin.

“I’ve always been interested in coaching and managing, especially since working with Russell Martin at MK Dons. “I really enjoyed his training and coaching methods,” Fraser said. “Then I travelled to Ipswich to work with Kieran McKenna. I truly loved his coaching. “Charlton had terrific instructors as well, and I just started picking up little bits. I prefer performing video analysis and focussing on the tactical aspects of the game.

Hometown pride

“I want to play for as long as I can, but when I got home, I knew I wanted to get into coaching, and I decided the best way to do it was to create my own academy. “It means a lot to me to be able to help out younger youngsters in Dundee. “We’re attempting to make it as elite as possible by assisting with diet, athletic growth, analysis work, and other aspects. “Small things that do not happen very often at the grassroots level. “That went on for more than six weeks, although I was supposed to return after six weeks.

“My groin is fine, I feel fine, and the hernia is fine, but I am still in pain. “So I went to another surgeon, and they discovered I had major nerve damage from the initial operation.

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