Falkirk youngster Thomas Grant has been encouraged to look close to home for inspiration after a disappointing season due to the effects of a virus that has ruled him out for nearly 6 months.
The 18-year-old is the son of Brian Grant, who enjoyed both League Cup and Scottish Cup success during a 12 year career with Aberdeen, but only after he had suffered a double leg break as a teenager with Stirling Albion. Falkirk's Technical Director Alex Smith was the Stirling boss when Grant senior broke his leg and he is now encouraging the young Bairn to use his dad as a role model.
Smith said: "Thomas was doing very well for us last season and at the start of this season however his virus floored him. It left him drained of energy and he went more than a month without training. He is now back running however he will not feature in this campaign so it is all about getting ready for next season." "As you can imagine it has hit the kid hard, however I was able to tell him about his dad going through a similar time but it all came good for him.
Brian was establishing himself in the Stirling team at the same age as Thomas however he got his leg broken in two places. It was a long way back for him after that." "He started his recovery at the end of a season but in the summer of 1984 he came in and worked every day to get himself fit again. I took him down to work as a runner on SFA courses at Largs to help his rehabilitation and it was during one of those courses he caught Sir Alex Ferguson's eye." Smith added: "Sir Alex asked to be kept up to date with his progress. Brian started the season for Stirling and 4 games later Aberdeen bought him. He went on to play over 250 games for them which was a huge turnaround from thinking that his career was over." "I am sure Brian is giving him the same advice but it does not do any harm to reinforce it. Thomas can build on the fitness he has just now over the summer and come back ready to be fighting for a first team place."
