First Team
THE TANGERINE ARMY | PARTICK THISTLE (H)
23rd April 2024
Peter Pawlett has opened his heart on the recurring Achilles injury that has seen him playing on through the pain barrier for the best part of five years.
The Dundee United star has bravely battled on with a niggling injury since 2017, taking pain killers and managing his training regime to ensure he stayed fit for 90 minutes on a Saturday.
Pawlett has been managing the pain over the last 18 months at Dundee United through a bespoke training plan devised by our Club's Head of Medicine Marcin Szostak and his team.
Despite the injury, Pawlett has shown immense determination to play on.
He made himself available for selection for 90% of games this season, performing to an incredibly high standard.
However, the pain in his Achilles has become increasingly unmanageable and has had a severe impact on Pawlett's day-to-day life.
Peter Pawlett reveals injury struggles
In the days that follow games, Pawlett has suffered.
He has often been unable to walk, crawling on his hands and knees to the toilet and the 31-year-old took the difficult decision to undergo surgery last month.
Pawlett will be out for the rest of the season but is targeting a return early into the new term.
He hopes he can feel almost pain-free for the first time in five years and take his game to another level at Dundee United.
Speaking exclusively to DUTV, Pawlett revealed: “It’s been really hard for me with the pain that I have had for a long period of time.
“For 18 months I’ve been in pain and it has been really troubling me.
“It got to the point recently, when the decision was made to go for the operation. It was affecting me playing football.
Watch Peter's in-depth interview here:
“Normally, when you play 90 minutes as a footballer everyone has pains and niggles.
“But I was suffering all week in pain. The next morning after games I wouldn’t be able to walk. I was on my hands and knees going to the toilet.
“It was really painful.
“Over that 18 month period the pain has been gradually getting worse but the pain itself has probably been there for over five years.
“I’ve been taking painkillers to take the pain away. I’d suffer during the week for 90 minutes I’d load up on the pain killers.
Family
“My family suffered for it. Your kids want to go in the garden and play football or have a bounce on the trampoline.
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’ve always walked with a limp. People always say to me: ‘Are you injured?’
“But I’ve just become used to the pain and found a way to manage it until now.”
Peter Pawlett bay-bay! ????
— SPFL (@spfl) October 28, 2021
The Terrors are unbeaten in their last 5 league matches ????????#cinchPrem | @dundeeunitedfc pic.twitter.com/mamlSUQFUo
Pawlett earned rave reviews after a superb start to the season and netted five goals in 14 games.
But despite showing immense determination to play on, a regression in the injury convinced Pawlett to undergo an operation four weeks ago.
However, the pain in his Achilles has become increasingly unmanageable and had a severe impact on Pawlett's day-to-day life.
“As a footballer you just want to play.
"You want that feeling of winning and 90 minutes of being part of the dressing room.
“I don’t think anything can compete with that for a footballer. I always want to play.
“Everyone plays with pain and niggles. Every single player will suffer for the team.
“But it has got to the point with me, where it was no longer manageable.
“I’m looking forward to scoring goals and winning games again. Those moments are special for a footballer.
???? @dundeeunitedfc are still fighting!
— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) September 23, 2021
Fantastic flick and finish from Peter Pawlett after a great team move ???? pic.twitter.com/m9Q1mYVRsP
“But I’ll appreciate little things such as going out for a warm-up and being able to jog across the pitch.
“When I did that before I was always thinking: ‘Oh no, I hope it’s OK’ or I’d have to so many painkillers that it masked the pain.
“The bigger picture is scoring goals, winning games and being successful for Dundee United but day to day, it will be nice for me to feel almost pain-free.
“I have so much left to give mentally and in my legs and, hopefully, this operation will give me that extra bit of sharpness or speed to make an impact in games.”
