Scotland lock Grant Gilchrist is determined to inspire club side Edinburgh and Scotland to glory, having made his return to the field at long last at the weekend.
The 26-year-old has missed the last two RBS 6 Nations Championships through injury, breaking his arm in February in his first club appearance for 16 months.
That was after fracturing a different bone in the same arm, as well as suffering a groin injury, but Gilchrist was back in the boiler room at the weekend as Edinburgh suffered a 34-16 defeat to Cardiff Blues.
And though the result did not go his team’s way, former Scotland skipper Gilchrist – who will hope to fight his way back into Vern Cotter’s plans if he stays injury free – was thrilled to be back and champing at the bit to enjoy a stellar season with both club and country.
“It certainly puts into perspective how lucky you are to be playing the game,” Gilchrist told STV.
“You can take it for granted. My first three seasons at Edinburgh I played every week and life was easy.
“So when you have a couple of years with a run of bad luck it just shows you how lucky you are to be playing the game you love.
“I have been to some pretty down places; thinking that things were just never going to go my way.
“But I am a positive guy. I would be down for a few days and then say to myself: ‘right, how am I going to get back? How can I make myself useful and help the team even when I’m in this state?’
“It puts a massive emphasis on this season for me.
“I feel like I owe the club some big performances and I’m going to try my best to do that.”
