Stevie Lawless’ return to the first team at Partick Thistle has been a long time coming. The experienced winger, a fans’ favourite at Firhill, picked up a nasty injury back in April that was expected to keep him sidelined for the rest of the calendar year, and hasn’t featured in the first team since.
A relatively speedy recovery, however, accelerated that timetable. So promising was Lawless’ return to fitness, in fact, that he was even named in the squad in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Raith Rovers. The prodigal son had returned.
“To the bench,” Lawless interjects with a mischievous grin.
The 33-year-old was an unused substitute in the end, and so his happy homecoming was knocked on another week. With Hamilton Accies coming to town today, Lawless is hopeful that he can at last make his long-awaited return.
One thing’s for certain: if he doesn’t, manager Kris Doolan can expect a chap on his office door on Monday morning.
“Aye, to be honest I was, just because of the way the week went, I thought I was definitely going [to play],” Lawless admitted. “I spoke to the manager and did that video [with the club’s in-house media team], so I was expecting to get a couple of minutes but spoke to him on Monday and I can understand. I don’t agree but I can understand his reasons behind it. It was a good chat on Monday!
“I didn’t think I had to be [in Doolan’s ear during the second half], to be fair – I’ve been in his head for 13 years so I thought he knew what I’m like! But listen, it is what it is. We just move on. We have got a big game at the weekend and hopefully I can have an impact on that.”
There have certainly been occasions this season where Lawless’ absence has been keenly felt. During the opening quarter of the Willam Hill Championship campaign, the Jags’ defence quickly earned a reputation for being miserly but at the other end of the park, clear-cut chances were few and far between.
There had been a distinct lack of a cutting edge in the team – something that has improved in recent weeks – while new arrivals such as Logan Chalmers have found some form after a slow start to life at Firhill.
“I always thought it was a good squad – just performances haven’t been great, if we’re being honest,” Lawless said. “Up until maybe the last month, maybe a wee bit longer than that, they’ve picked up.
“I think our decision-making has been pretty bang-average all year but it has started to pick up a little bit. Maybe not so much at the weekend [against Raith] because first half that should have been out of sight. We did a wee bit of analysis on Thursday and pretty much confirmed it but the boys know that.”
With Thistle struggling to fashion opportunities at times this term, one could be forgiven for thinking that Lawless would be sitting on the sidelines, licking his lips in anticipation at the thought of what he could bring to the team. But the wide player – who will vie with Chalmers for a place in Doolan’s starting XI – insists that wasn’t the case.
“I wasn’t licking my lips when I was watching it – pretty tough watch at times! I know what I can do when I come back, hopefully that will be the aim,” Lawless explained.
“I take big responsibility on the park about that being part of the game that heavily involves me. That is what I will be looking to do. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some creative boys in the team who probably have been underperforming but they have managed to pick up now, I think they will be quite honest about that as well.
“Logan especially the last few games has been very good, so again long may that continue. Hopefully we can push each other and make it a really competitive right-hand side.
“I think he had a slow start but I was his biggest defender during that time. It’s really hard to play that position while – with all due respect to the boys behind him – when you don’t have a natural right-back.
“I know that myself, it’s not easy to do. The timing of passes, your movement, things like that – it can really affect your ability to create things. He has obviously picked up lately and with Kenny [Kanayo Megwa] coming in, the two of them have looked decent out there.
“That’s exactly what I want. I want him performing well and for me to have to force my way back into the team. That’s not to say that the two of us can’t play in the same team, but both of us prefer that right-hand side so I am looking forward to the battle.”
Lawless might be adopting a warrior spirit in his bid for a starting spot at Firhill, but the past few months have been positively serene by comparison. The 33-year-old has, quite literally, had his feet up as he recovered from surgery faster than anticipated.
Little victories, he says, were the key, and his family’s efforts cannot be overstated. But there was also one particular piece of equipment that holds a special place in Lawless’ heart.
“There was loads [that helped],” he recalled. “I just tried to hit little milestones along the way. Initially it was something simple like getting my boot off, stuff like that. I just focused on closer ones and not really the long-term. I said I would be back in November but that was months away, so I focused on smaller things.
“I had a lot of help at home too. My wife was running about after me and I had the kids, so I got a lot of help that way.
“One of the biggest things I had was a mobility scooter. That helped me get about and get the kids, so I loved that thing. I can’t wait to get one of them again! Not when I’m injured, fingers crossed, but it was brilliant having that.
“My youngest actually said to me a few days ago, ‘I really miss your taxi, Dad’. She said that to me two days ago – in the car!
“One of my pals got one a while ago, just for going to the pub because his missus was raging with him. I don’t actually think you’re allowed to do that. She was raging at him for going to the pub and then falling up the road, so they got one of them instead. I’m not naming names in case he gets done! But aye, that gave me the idea to get it.
“As soon as I got the operation and knew I’d be off my feet for a while, I had to get one. The kids’ school is just at the bottom of the street so it let me collect my kids and get out the house. I could go and get a haircut without relying on anyone else. Brilliant investment.”
Not that he has any plans to get back in the saddle anytime soon.
“Maybe not the now,” Lawless added. “I need to lay off it before I develop a problem. In a few years down the line, maybe. But I don’t want to become dependent on them at 33! I’ll be up and down that wing next year on a mobility scooter.”
If Lawless wants to stay out of that scooter, then remaining fit is a must. You might think that given the nature of his injury and the length of his recovery that his team-mates would go easy on him upon his return to training, but one player appears to have missed that memo – and there are no prizes for guessing who.
“They didn’t have a chance before that anyway – they couldn’t get near me,” Lawless laughs. “No, there were a couple of days where I think they left me have a wee bit of leeway. But no guesses who was the first one to put me up in the air – it was Bannigan!”
