Terry Butcher praises comeback by Graeme Shinnie
Last updated on .From the section Football
Inverness manager Terry Butcher has hailed Graeme Shinnie following his comeback from serious illness.
The 20-year-old defender was struck down by an intestinal problem halfway through last season and played his first full game for seven months in last Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Rangers.
"It was his first competitive 90 minutes since the Morton cup tie and that was in January," Butcher said.
"I thought he had a fantastic match. That's a massive success story."
Shinnie has come through the ranks at Caledonian Stadium, where he was joined by his older brother, Andrew, this summer after the midfielder's exit from Rangers.
"I have seen him in hospital with the tubes and his parents there and his brother and the emotions they went through and the hard time," said the Caley Thistle boss.
"It was just brilliant to see him out on the pitch, it really made your heart glow because he's such a lovely kid and he's tough as teak, he really is. There's a lot of steel there."
Shinnie was delighted to be back in action following his health scare.
"I'm back to full health and full fitness and to be back on the pitch was really good, I was buzzing," he said.
"My health was under a bit, but I have come back strong.
"Everyone from Raigmore Hospital helped me out really well and the boys and the manager and the coaching staff.
"It was a hard time, but I got through it and everything is good now."
