January 24, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr
Sierra Leone international, Mustapha Dumbuya, has praised the Patrick Thistle staff, players and fans, who inspired him to fight back from the toughest injury spell of his career.
The right-back was given a huge ovation as he ran out for the second half to replace Callum Booth and the emotional defender was delighted to be back in action as he proceeded to deliver a lively 45 minutes.
Dumbuya said: “It felt really good. It’s what I’ve been looking forward to for the past six and a half months.
“It was an amazing welcome from the fans and it was emotional for me. My family was out there and I’m sure my wife was crying. The fans were brilliant during my comeback. The boys were great too. They were all delighted to see me play 45 minutes over in Spain,” he said.
“The manager and Scott Paterson have always been encouraging me. It’s been a tough six months, but there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. The gaffer wanted me to get on the ball as much as possible and get my fitness back.”
“I knew I was coming on, it was pre-planned. Me and the gaffer spoke about it and discussed whether I started or came on later. In the end it was down to him. It’s been really tough for me. I’ve had to stay mentally and physically strong. But I’ve done it and I’ve been looking forward to this day.”