Carrick Rangers attacker Nedas Maciulaitis admits his ACL injury nightmare has been “more mental than anything” after enduring a lengthy rehabilitation process – but the cruel setback has also helped give him a greater appreciation for football.

It was in the early stages of Carrick’s Senior Shield - a competition Stephen Baxter’s side would go on to win – victory over Glentoran in October when the 26-year-old could immediately tell something was wrong.

The eight months since that devastating night at The Oval have been packed full of challenges as Maciulaitis underwent surgery before spending countless hours in the gym, going through an extensive rehab programme while his team-mates trained nearby.

Throughout the process, Maciulaitis has been driven on by a motivation to return better than before, and there’s now light at the end of the tunnel after receiving the green light to take part in pre-season.

placeholder image — Nedas Maciulaitis is set to make his Carrick Rangers return ahead of the new season. (Photo by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press)

This is the first time Maciulaitis had experienced the crushing low of a long-term injury – the mental toll far outweighing any physical pain – but he has been helped through the difficult period by a crucial support network.

"When the injury happens and you go through the surgery, you know you're going to be out for nine to 12 months,” he said. “Mentally, that's very hard to accept, but once you start the rehab programme you're in that zone, working every day in the gym.

"We were playing against Glentoran and it was in the first 10 minutes of the game, I just overstretched and fell awkwardly...the defender thought I was diving!

"I stood up, went to jog and you could tell then there was something wrong. Most people who do their ACLs say they heard a pop, but I didn't, it was just once I stood up something seemed off.

"It (recovery) can be very lonely. You see all the lads heading out onto the training pitch and you're going into the gym to do the rehab.

"The first two months you're doing practically nothing, you're on crutches and trying to build the strength back up, you're basically learning to walk again which is scary.

"It can be lonely but I had a few guys at the club who were going through similar injuries so it made it a lot easier.

"I did all the testing last week and have been cleared to come back to play, so it'll be slowly easing myself into pre-season, getting minutes here and there, and I should be ready to go for the start of the season.

"It has been a long eight or nine months out, mentally it has been really difficult, but I've had really good people around me so it has made life a lot easier.”

ACL are the three letters every athlete desperately hopes to avoid with the serious knee injury associated with a lengthy recovery time, but unlike in years gone by, it's no longer a career-ender.

The likes of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Manchester City’s Rodri have returned to top form after suffering the injury, while NFL star Tom Brady also made a comeback.

Buoyed by his research, Maciulaitis, who has racked up 100 Premiership appearances for Carrick since joining from Loughgall in 2023, has faith this setback won’t limit his career.

"In the past it was almost like a career-ending thing, but with technology these days and the different methods of surgery, you're well looked after,” he added. “I did a lot of research and spoke to the physio, and a lot of players can come back stronger than they were before – that's my plan.

"When the injury happens, you're looking nine to 12 months ahead and wanting to come back better than before.

"You don't realise how much you love football until you're out of it. You're watching games and wishing you were out there.

"It's a very difficult place but you have to just be positive about it.

"The club have been fantastic with all of the consultant appointments and I can't thank our physio Cameron (Shaw) enough for what he has done for me with the rebab programme, coming with me to appointments.

"Having your family and friends close is important too. They know how difficult it is because football is such a big part of my life and then it's taken away from you for almost a year, that can be very difficult.

"I have a really good support system which makes it easier.”

Maciulaitis is returning to a Carrick squad coming off a record-breaking campaign – the Taylors Avenue outfit amassed 53 Premiership points to book their spot in the European play-offs, ultimately losing out to Dungannon Swifts.

Baxter’s men will have their sights set on building upon that success further and Maciulaitis believes Carrick have a squad capable of achieving that goal.

"We went on a crazy winning run in the New Year and the team was performing unbelievably,” he said. “We were unlucky in the play-offs.

"The aim would be to push into that top-half next season. The league is getting more and more competitive, but our team is strong enough and I’m sure we’ll have a few more players coming in to strengthen that further.”