THE physical ravages on David Templeton have been bountiful and well-documented. The psychological trauma has been just as damaging.

The infuriating, painful, confidence shredding menace of a persistent knee injury, which almost prompted the 28-year-old to retire from the game, niggled away at the head too. By his own accounts, Templeton’s morale had plunged into the kind of depths usually reserved for bathyspheres and deep sea marine life.

“At the time you don’t realise how low you are,” reflected Templeton in a candid assessment of those dark, demoralising days of false dawns and relentless setbacks. “It is not until you get back and think of the place you were in basically.

“For me, I didn’t look for any help (psychologically) but looking at it now I probably should have because I was pretty depressed. I didn’t want to leave the house, do anything with my wife, go for dinner or anything. I just wanted to sit in and watch box-sets, be by myself. It’s pretty depressing.

“My friends wanted me to go out and watch the football and stuff but I would rather sit in by myself and watch the football. You don’t realise you are doing it and it’s not been until I’ve come back that I have looked back at the way I was.

“I don’t know how my wife put up with me, to be honest. She deserves a lot of credit for sticking by me because it must have been tough on her as well. It is a huge relief when you are back training with the boys and having a laugh. It makes a huge difference.

“Coming in and being amongst the banter was really good for me. Training, playing games and just being around and kicking a ball again is really enjoyable.”

During his spell in this footballing equivalent of solitary confinement, there didn’t seem to be much light at the end of a particularly bleak tunnel but Templeton’s outlook is now as bright as the Christmas lights switch on in Hamilton toon centre.

His renaissance with the Accies was rewarded with the Ladbrokes Player of the Month award for November the other day. While there is plenty of work to do, the former Hearts and Rangers winger is relishing the chance to put in the hard yards even it’s been something of a shock to the system.

“You get some people who are just naturally fit but I’m not one of them,” he conceded. “You’ll get some players who can spend the full week drinking then come in the next day and still be the fittest guy in the team. When it comes to doing long runs, I pick up niggles and problems with my hamstrings or the calf but the sports scientist here has managed me brilliantly.

“The last time I won one of these awards was the Young Player award, back in 2010 or so. I’ve never been the Player of the Month before, though.

“However, because of what I’ve been through – in terms of my injury and not knowing whether I’d ever get back – this one means a lot more.”

Templeton has expressed his gratitude to those at Hamilton for offering him a chance of a fresh start at a time when others kept their distance. Asked if he always remained confident of getting a deal somewhere, Templeton replied: “No, to be honest. My agent spoke to a few clubs but no one really wanted to take a chance because I had been out for so long. It’s not nice but I could understand it because I had been out for so long.

“It wasn’t as bad an injury as it seemed but obviously from the outside, nearly two years out, I can understand it. No one wanted to touch me.

“When there was nothing there for me it was just a case of trying to get in somewhere to train, to try to get fit again and then I would take it from there. I managed to get fit and thankfully this club took the chance.

“They wanted me to sign without any pressure - they didn’t have to see me train - and I think that was a big help as well. Knowing I could just come in and enjoy it after I signed. I’m grateful to Accies, definitely.

“At the time they brought me in no one else was willing to take that risk in case I broke down again or whatever. But the gaffer and Ronnie McDonald took a huge gamble on me and, hopefully, it’s now paying off for them as much as it is for me.”

In this game, there are plenty of what ifs, maybes and might have beens. Templeton’s profile rocketed five years ago when he capped a fine performance for Hearts in a Europa League play-off against Liverpool with a memorable goal at Anfield.

In that time, there has been a big money, and largely unfulfilling, move to Rangers and the anguish of prolonged injuries. It’s no wonder that Templeton is keen to focus on the future and not dwell on the past.

‘I have never watched the full game (against Liverpool) back,” he said. “I don’t look back at things like that because what’s happened has happened.

“I just look forward now and enjoy playing football again.”