Scott Fraser On Overcoming Injury, MK Dons, Ipswich And Playing Under Nigel Clough And Russell Martin | OneFootball

Last season was difficult for you, as while at Dundee, you underwent surgery for a hernia, which led to complications that kept you out for much of the season. Are you close to getting back to full fitness and ready to return to the game with a new club soon?

“Yeah, I’m feeling much better now.

“In the past, I’ve been fortunate that by the end of each season, I’ve either had a contract in place or plenty of interest, which allowed me to choose where I wanted to go next. This summer has been a bit different. Understandably, some clubs look at last season and question whether I was injured. But once they actually understand the full context that I didn’t really get the chance to recover properly from my first surgery, it changes their perspective a bit.

“It wasn’t a case of having surgery, coming back, and then picking up separate muscle injuries like a calf or hamstring. It was more that I never really got a proper recovery period from that initial operation.

“I think the frustrating part is that people often just look at the stats, given the number of games I missed last season, and assume I was dealing with constant injuries.

“But it was never a case of being injury-prone or picking up knock after knock. What actually happened was that I had surgery, and unfortunately, it wasn’t done properly. It left me with quite severe nerve damage.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced nerve damage or know someone who has, but it’s not something you can just push through. It’s constant pain. It’s relentless, and that’s what I was dealing with.

“So, to finally get that sorted has been massive for me. It’s taken a real weight off my shoulders, and it’s made a huge difference to how I feel day to day and how I can approach football again.

“On the personal side, I’ve got a young two-year-old daughter who definitely keeps me busy. She doesn’t give me much time to dwell on the last year or anything like that because she keeps me on my toes, which is actually a really good distraction.

“I think when people hear the full story, they get a clearer picture.”

“Yeah, I loved it. I think I signed for Dundee United when I was about nine, and even at that age, I always had one clear goal which was to play for the first team.

“I had opportunities to move elsewhere when I was around 12 or 13, but I never seriously considered it. My ambition was always to break through at United.

“Looking back, I was probably a bit unlucky timing-wise. When players like Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Gauld were in the first team, they were doing really well, and then when they moved on, it kind of fell to me to step into that role. I’d only just broken in, and suddenly there was this expectation to replace players who’d been performing consistently at a high level for two or three seasons. That was a big ask at such a young age.

“But overall, I really enjoyed my time there. I do wish we’d achieved a bit more as a team. I was around the first-team squad when guys like Stuart were helping the club reach cup finals, semi-finals, and push for European places, so it would’ve been nice to have been part of that success more directly.”

“Yeah, I played with Gauldy from the moment I first signed at United and all the way through the age groups. He was always a standout, and once he got his chance in the first team, he just took off and never looked back.

“With guys like Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven, you could tell straight away they had something special. Stuart’s athleticism was on another level. He was head and shoulders above anyone else in that regard, and Gary’s technical ability and skill on the ball were incredible. He could do things others simply couldn’t.

“You always had a feeling those players were going to catch the eye, and they absolutely did. It’s no surprise they went on to achieve some really impressive things in their careers.”

You made a strong impression at Dundee United and gained valuable experience with a loan spell at Airdrie, playing regularly at a young age. That then led to your move to Burton Albion under Nigel Clough. What was it like working under a manager like him, and how did you find the step up to the competitive environment of League One football in England?

“I’ve got a lot of time for Nigel, honestly, I loved playing under him. I still speak to him quite regularly. I’ve got so much to thank him for. He’s not just a great manager, but a great person too. His record speaks for itself, both as a player and as a coach.

“He was very firm but always fair, and I think that’s exactly what I needed at that stage of my career. That’s a big reason why I made the move to Burton. I just felt it was the right fit for me, and it turned out to be exactly that.

“He helped me improve a lot, both in terms of my game and my overall professionalism. Making the move to England definitely pushed me to grow, and I think I managed to do alright down there.”

You had a strong spell at Burton, which earned you a move to MK Dons, where you finished as the club’s top league scorer that season. During that time, you worked under Russell Martin, who’s now taken charge at Rangers. What was he like to work with as a manager, and how did you find your time at MK Dons, especially in a side that clearly looked to play attacking, front-foot football?

“Yeah, that’s exactly what it was. When I moved to MK Dons, it was a bit of a strange one because it all happened during COVID. There were a few moves lined up earlier in the year, and I knew by around January that I’d be leaving Burton due to the interest coming in. Then lockdown hit in March, budgets were slashed, and football just went a bit mad.

“It wasn’t until around September that I actually signed for MK Dons, and that move was purely down to Russ. He’d been speaking to me throughout the summer, showing me the plans for the club, how he wanted to play, and how I’d fit into that system.

“To be honest, it turned out to be probably the most enjoyable year of my career. I loved the responsibility he gave me and the way the team played—it suited me perfectly. Russ and his assistant at the time, Luke Williams, were both excellent to work with.

“They actually sparked my interest in coaching and management, just from how they operated and the level of detail they went into. Russ is another one I’ve got a great relationship with, and I still speak to him regularly.

“He’s done brilliantly since then, especially with what he achieved at Southampton, getting them promoted. Now he’s at a massive club like Rangers, and I’ve no doubt he’ll continue to do really well there.

“He is one of the best I’ve come across in terms of striking that balance of being approachable and building a relationship with you, while still making it absolutely clear that he’s the boss.

“He’s got a brilliant way about him, and I think that’s why players respond so well to him. I can only speak from my own experience, but even from what I’ve heard from lads at other clubs he’s worked at, it’s always the same feedback and that’s that he’s exceptional with players.

“He genuinely feels like a mate off the pitch, but the moment you step onto the training ground or into a matchday environment, there’s no question he’s in charge. That level of respect never fades.

“And because of the way he treats people, first and foremost as human beings, you naturally want to work hard for him. Add to that his coaching methods and the freedom he gives players in all positions to express themselves, and it creates a really positive, progressive environment. He’s top-class in that sense.”

At MK Dons that season, you had a strong blend of experienced players like Josh McEachran and Andrew Surman who’d played at the top level, and exciting young talent like Matt O’Riley, who’s since gone on to play for Celtic and in the Premier League. What was it like being part of a squad with that kind of balance between youth and experience?

“Yeah, it was a really enjoyable squad to be part of. I think what made it work so well was that everyone was technically sound, and the style of play suited the group perfectly. The recruitment was really intentional—they brought in players who could fit that possession-based, attacking philosophy.

“Take someone like Andrew Surman, for example, he’d been playing in the Premier League with Bournemouth just a season or two before, under Eddie Howe in a side that was all about dominating the ball. You could see his quality immediately. He was crucial for us in terms of build-up play and getting on the ball in midfield and linking the play, especially with myself and Matty, who operated as the two eights or tens.

“We leaned on Andrew and Josh McEachran a lot. Josh, in particular, is honestly one of the best technical players I’ve ever played with. Wherever he wanted the ball to go, it went. He was just so composed and precise with the ball and a real joy to play alongside.

“Then we had the younger lads like Matty Sorinola, David Kasumu, and Harry Darling, who all brought something different. They had their own unique strengths, their own flair, and added real energy and technical quality to the team. It was a great mix of experience and youth, and that balance really made the squad tick.”

“I signed for Ipswich with the understanding that I’d be playing as a number eight, which was the same role I’d been performing well in at MK Dons. But in the first 10 to 12 games, I was shifted out to the left wing, which I’d never played before. That was frustrating, because I wasn’t brought in to play there, and it didn’t suit my strengths.

“That is not me making excuses. That is the reality. I’d gone from being a top scorer, winning Player’s Player of the Year, to being pushed out of position and expected to just get on with it. I didn’t enjoy it, and I never really felt like I was being given the best chance to make an impact.

“I’ve never been someone who’s happy just to make up the numbers. I want to feel involved, feel important, and play where I can influence the game. Unfortunately, I didn’t get that at Ipswich, which was disappointing.

“But that’s football as these things happen. You learn from it, take what you can from the experience, and move on.”

“I don’t think I ever lost my confidence. I’ve always believed in myself and backed my ability. Again, it’s not about making excuses for what happened at Ipswich, but the reality is that I was playing out on the left wing, which is somewhere I’d never really played before.

“And to be honest, if I’d been playing left wing at MK Dons, I don’t think Ipswich would’ve paid a fee to sign me. The interest in me came from what I’d done as a central midfielder, so being played out of position didn’t really reflect the strengths that got me there in the first place.

“When I moved to Charlton, it was made clear from the start that I’d be playing centrally again, which suited me down to the ground. And I think that showed. In my first full season, I chipped in with nine or ten goals and eight or nine assists, so I was right back to the kind of numbers I was hitting at MK Dons

“More importantly, I was enjoying my football again, playing in my natural role and feeling like I was making a real impact.”

“Yeah, it was just one of those moves that came at exactly the right time. We’d reached a stage as a family where we were ready to leave London. With a two-year-old daughter, we really wanted to get back home to be closer to family, and for my partner to be near hers as well.

“So, when the Hearts opportunity came up, it was perfect. The timing couldn’t have been better, and it allowed us to make that move back to Scotland, which was the priority at that point.

“From a football perspective, it was also such an easy dressing room to walk into. Genuinely, a brilliant group of lads, and every single one of them made me feel welcome from day one. I already knew a few boys, like Liam Boyce, but even beyond that, the whole squad and coaching staff were spot on.

“I actually did my medical two weeks before the deal was finalised, so I was around the place a bit before it was official, and from the first day I stepped in, everyone was great with me.

“There’s a strong Scottish core in the squad, which obviously helps, but also a really good mix with the English boys as well. It just made for a brilliant environment, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group to join.”

“I am raring to go because I know that I can add value on and off the pitch. I am at an age now where I have experience of playing in Scotland and England under many top managers and coaches.

“I have learned a lot from them and from my teammates at each of the clubs that I have been at so far, and I look forward to getting back playing and being able to pass my experience on to other players within that dressing room.”