Former Hearts star admits retirement fears during knee injury woe as return to action leaves him emotional
The former Hearts player made an emotional return to action over the weekend.
A former Hearts star admits he was told his career could have been over after a brutal knee injury battle.
Sam Nicholson pulled on a Motherwell shirt for the first time in 350 days off the bench during their weekend win in the Premiership at Livingston. His issues first came to light over 18 months ago and 10 games into his comeback last season, he broke down, in February 2025. Surgery to fix a patellar-tendon tear failed to work on the first go as it was an issue misdiagnosed.
He will now hope to play a part for Jens Berthel Askou’s impressive fourth-placed side over the second half of the season with injury issues shelved. Nicholson, who came through the Hearts academy and made 127 Jambos appearances while at Tynecastle, said: "I had the problem in 2024 and it was sort of wrongfully diagnosed. They thought it was just a tendonitis problem, albeit a severe version. I tried to play through it but I was in pain every day and it just got to a point where I said, 'I need to get a scan'.
Sam Nicholson on Motherwell injury problems
"They scanned it, found the tear in my patellar tendon and stitched it back on. I did my full rehab for that, got back and was in even more pain. I went back for a consultation and that's when they told me, 'Yeah, we're not sure if you'll play again'. Thankfully the surgery went well.
"There were a lot of down days, to be fair. And once the second surgery was done, I was focused on just trying my best to get to where I am now. I owe the club a lot of thanks because they sent me to the best people in London who've managed to save my knee in a way and get to point where I can play games. I owe the club a big thank you.
"It was quite emotional on Saturday. was trying to hold it together a wee bit on the pitch, because it's been long road and I've just been waiting for this moment for a long time. To get back on the pitch, I'm just delighted to be there.
What Motherwell did for Sam Nicholson amid injury recovery
"It was supposed to be three and half to four months out but there were complications and a few bad consultation meetings. My team-mates and the management staff have been great the whole way through, constantly checking on me. Not just physically but mentally as well. I know we're in quite a privileged job, 100 per cent. I don't deny that, but there are tough things that come with it too, and my team-mates and the staff have always checked in on me. So I owe them a thank you as well.
"There were times when I was out injured and worry. I was thinking, 'What am going to do?', because you don't really expect that news. Every day I've been in with the boys regardless and they've always been checking up on me and lifting spirits, which is huge in football. Not just football but in life nowadays. You see how people go into these bad places.
"I've been surrounded by good people that I never really went to that bad place. I've always had good people around me, my family included. My dad phones me every day after training and I've got my brothers there too. My wife and two kids keep me pretty occupied as well."