Kane Ritchie-Hosler has made a welcome return from injury to competitive football. The 21 year-old midfielder’s journey has been one of resilience, hard work and determination. After facing an ankle injury setback, Kane’s return to the field was a moment to celebrate. Tuesday afternoon’s match against Dundee in the Dunfermline reserves was more than just a game – it was a testament to Kane’s spirit and dedication. Reflecting on his return, Kane was visibly delighted:-
“I’m really happy, it’s been a long time out. I’ve worked hard in the gym. It’s been tough at times, but I’m just happy to be back out there.”
Kane’s journey back to the field wasn’t without its challenges. The young footballer shared his struggles in dealing with this early setback in his career just two months after signing a three year deal at Dunfermline in May. He said:-
“It’s definitely tough, especially because of how hard I’d worked in pre-season and coming back in and getting an injury in training, it got me down a lot.”
Despite the mental and physical challenges, Kane’s determination remained unshaken, and he resolved to bounce back stronger than ever. The injury itself, an anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) tear in his ankle was significant and he required surgery. However, Kane tackled the rehabilitation process head-on, describing his experience:-
“It was tough but it’s good to be out there. I’m feeling good after the game and I’m feeling a lot stronger as well, hopefully it just continues.”
It was great to see Kane out on the field again portraying his trademark pace and agility. Kane stressed that he wanted to maintain his distinctive playing style that has made him a fans favourite at KDM Group East End Park:- “I want to keep that, that’s one element of my game I want to keep of course, my pace! I’ve just got to keep working and hopefully be in the squad for the next game.”
His fitness was further demonstrated by his willingness to go beyond the initially planned 45 minutes of play, as he felt good enough to continue for 75 minutes. Looking ahead, Kane’s focus is on making his mark in the first-team squad. With the upcoming Championship match against Inverness, he remains optimistic about his prospects, sharing, “Hopefully, I’ll be in the squad for Saturday – I just need to keep doing what I’m doing. Getting 75 minutes was good for me today.”
Manager James McPake, who watched Kane’s return, lauded his young player’s character and perseverance, highlighting how the player turned a challenging situation into an opportunity for growth. James acknowledged Kane’s journey and his commitment to get back playing as quickly as possible:-
“He’s shown great character throughout that period. For a young lad, that can be demoralising, that can be tough to take. It’s a credit to Kane, he’s done everything he can. When the boot came off he started his rehab and he’s been out there every afternoon as well as doing gym stuff in the morning.”
