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They say a year is a long time in football. So how long does that make 595 days?

During that period between August 2019 and April 2021, Brexit finally happened. A Star Wars series started in 1977 ended. A new US president was elected. And there’s also been a global pandemic added in for good measure.

That’s not even beginning to list off the dramatic storylines carried within Scottish football during that time. But through all the change, hardship and turbulence, there was one constant in the sometimes lonely and often cold South Stand gym at Fir Park.

Charles Dunne could not have envisaged a billboard smash and groin injury suffered in a derby match against Hamilton Academical would rule him out of almost two season’s worth of senior squads. He had a long-term injury at Oldham Athletic prior to arriving at Motherwell in 2017 but it was nothing like this.

“It’s been a while since I’ve did an interview, I’ve been injured for decades,” Dunne said as he began to speak publicly about his injury for the first time. “I’ve been injured for so long but it doesn’t feel that long. I see people saying on Twitter saying it’s 595 days but to me it doesn’t feel like it.

“Maybe it’s just how I am. There’s maybe been frustrating bits here and there with the way the injury was.

“I have been ok mentally. Initially I did my groin at Hamilton but I also crashed into the billboard that match which people might not remember. I started to feel pain in my knee.

“I had done my groin so that was focused on. I had the operation, did the rehab. I was coming back from that injury but I always had that pain in my knee. We didn’t know what it was – maybe a tendon – but we got a scan and they said it was a bruised bone.

“I went to see a specialist who said it would be fine in six to eight weeks. I was able to continue training but I was in pain. I went back, the specialist said there was nothing there and it was taking longer than expected. I then couldn’t train as it was too sore so I went back to him a third time.

“He went into my knee this time and there was something wrong with my cartilage, little things. He then drilled the bruised bone as it aids healing and since then I’ve been doing that. People might think I had knee reconstruction or something like that but it was just a bruised bone. Like one on your body, but on the bone.”

It’s been a long, long road. Even the simple things at one stage were difficult for Dunne, who moved to find new tasks. Given the length of time he had out with injury, the dreaded post-football thoughts entered the mind.

Such is his character though, Dunne was not prepared to make this a hard luck story. Instead he worked behind the scenes, joining former manager Stephen Robinson for a peek on the other side of his career last year.

“Every single day I was in pain, walking up the stairs, even when I was in bed fixing the covers,” Dunne candidly said.

“It was crazy. I began to think ‘when am I going to get better?’ I knew I’d recover. I wish we had diagnosed it straight away.

“I went to watch Hibs to keep myself busy. When you are injured in that gym all day it’s a lonely place. It’s no joke up there. Your mindset has to be different. So I did some scouting for that game, it was quite fun to be fair. I thought I was Pep Guardiola(!).

“I don’t think about what comes after too much. It’s too hard – but I should do. I like coaching with kids and speaking to people about mindset. I think I would be quite good at that when I’m finished.”

Dunne’s been through hell and back but now he is ready to put the Guardiola handbook to one side and make his presence known on the park.

It’s not going to be a quick process back to 90 minutes of action but the defender knows the end of the painful road is near.

“It’s been really nice to be back involved in matchday squads and stuff,” he said. “I am still hungry for more. I want to play, I really want to play. I have to build up of course. I’ve just been focusing on getting fit. I am looking forward, always.

“It is what it is, the longest and most frustrating injury I have ever had. It’s all part of the journey and this will make me stronger.

“I am just happy to be back training with the boys, I am like a big kid again. We just need to try and finish the season on a high and try and stay positive. There’s nothing else we can do. I need to try and impress the manager.

“I have been out for a while but I feel just how I used to feel. It will take a while for me to get back to match fitness but there’s nothing I can do about that.

“People who know me, they know my energy, I bring positive vibes. Ultimately, I want to show myself on the pitch.”

Motherwell host Kilmarnock on Saturday in the penultimate home fixture of the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership season.

Here are the key topics going into the match.

Battle at the bottom

The two clubs have contrasting objectives going into Saturday’s fixture.

Motherwell secured safety with victory at Hamilton last midweek, and now have their sights on finishing at the highest-placed team in the bottom half of the post-split groups.

Kilmarnock, meanwhile, are in a fight to maintain their Premiership status.

Of the three clubs in relegation trouble, Tommy Wright’s men are in the strongest position with three games to go.

Killie sit two points above play-off placed Ross County, and five ahead of Hamilton at the bottom.

Defeat to avenge

Motherwell have two reasons to seek revenge on Saturday.

Kilmarnock won the last fixture between the two sides 4-1 in the middle of March and, although ‘Well won at Rugby Park two games ago, Saturday’s visitors were also victorious on their last trip to Fir Park.

Battle of the form teams

Although both sides went out of the Scottish Cup quarter-finals in their last outing, the two teams had been in strong form before.

In the five games prior to defeat at Hibernian, Motherwell had won four and lost one.

Kilmarnock meanwhile won four and drew one of their previous five matches.

Motherwell face Rangers in SWPL1 on Sunday.

Kick off at The Penny Cars Stadium is at 2pm.

The game is closed to supporters but is available to watch live on the BBC Scotland website.

Highlights of the match will also be broadcast live on BBC Scotland at 8.30pm on Sunday.

Tale of the tape

Rangers have won four and drawn one of their five meetings with the women of steel.

The last encounter came at the Rangers Training Centre in December, with the hosts winning 9-0.

Form guide

A 3-1 loss at Spartans last weekend marked ‘Well’s fourth defeat in five games since returning from the enforced break.

Successive 3-2 losses to Forfar Farmington and Hibernian were followed by defeat at Glasgow City, and then a 2-1 home win over Hearts to lift the team off the bottom of the table.

Rangers are in a battle with Glasgow City and Celtic at the top of the SWPL1 table.

Since the return, the Light Blues racked up four wins – scoring 23 goals without reply – but also crucially lost 1-0 in the derby with Celtic to damage their title hopes.

Programme

You can watch a live stream of Motherwell v Kilmarnock wherever you are on Saturday.

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game is available to buy on a pay-per-view basis for £12.

Season ticket holders can watch the game for free, as usual, at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Kick-off is at 3pm.

Kilmarnock come calling to Fir Park on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.

Kick-off is at 3pm.

Watch live

If you’re in the UK or Republic of Ireland, a live stream of the game is available to buy on a pay-per-view basis for £12.

Season ticket holders can watch the game for free, as usual, at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

International-based supporters can watch via their usual subscription at live.motherwellfc.co.uk.

Tale of the tape

The bragging rights in this fixture never hold for long.

The last four games have seen two victories apiece for both sides, with Kilmarnock winning the most recent outing at Rugby Park.

At Fir Park, Killie won the most recent encounter in December 2020. Prior to that, goals from Liam Donnelly and Devante Cole sealed a 2-1 win in October 2019.

Form guide

Defeat on penalties to Hibernian at the weekend was only Motherwell’s second loss in nine fixtures.

Before then, six wins and a draw had been recorded, with Graham Alexander’s men hitting form as the season rolls to a close.

Kilmarnock are unbeaten in their last five matches prior to their Scottish Cup match with St Mirren on Monday night, winning four and drawing one.

Motherwell put in another strong performance but were left empty-handed in defeat at Spartans.

Nicole Pullar cancelled out Sarah Clelland’s early opener at Ainslie Park, only for Becky Galbraith and Michaela McAlonie to seal a 3-1 win for the hosts.

The visitors had the bulk of the goal scoring chances in an evenly-contested first half, but found themselves behind at the interval.

Spartans opened the scoring in the 10th minute, after a ball down the channel was then cut back to find Sarah Clelland, whose left footed shot flew by McGregor in goal.

Motherwell then drew level after a well-worked move found Abby Callaghan, whose effort was then turned home by Pullar from six yards out.

Then, despite having another two good opportunities on goal, it was Spartans who took the lead again. A mistake was pounced on by Galbraith, who toe poked home her first of the game.

The second half was dominated by Motherwell, who saw plenty good play in the final third come to nothing.

Spartans increased their lead after a through ball was played to what looked like to be an offside McAlonie, who then lobbed the onrushing McGregor.

Again, the final 20 minutes was dominated by Motherwell, who kept Spartans back but couldn’t find another goal.

“I’m proud of how we came back.

“We got ourselves in a hole but we showed courage.

“We just couldn’t get it over the line.”

Graham Alexander laments Motherwell’s exit from the Scottish Cup at the quarter-final stage to Hibernian.

Motherwell staged a brilliant, stirring comeback but went out on penalties to Hibernian at the quarter-final stage of the Scottish Cup.

Doidge and an offside Irvine put Hibernian on easy street before brilliant replies from Lamie and Watt took it all the way to spot kicks.

O’Hara and Lawless missed in the shootout however, securing a heartbreaking exit.

Graham Alexander stuck with the same starting team which got the job done against Hamilton in midweek. Watt was the only inclusion in the 20, with Dean Cornelius giving up his seat on the bench.

A place at Hampden Park lay in wait but it was the hosts who started the brightest, sending a succession of dangerous balls into the area without success.

The visitors took their time to grow into the match but arguably had the best chances of the half, despite seeing less of the possession.

First, Cole saw a fizzing cross across the face of the goal have no takers, before Campbell’s shot from the edge of the box was parried away by the home goalkeeper.

Lamie also saw a chance go begging when a corner from the left saw him get on the blindside of his marker, but steer his right-footed, diving shot well wide.

‘Well needed to come out brighter in the second but fell behind with eight minutes gone.

McGinn had time to pick his spot with a cross from deep on the right and Doidge rose highest, heading into the right of the net from 12 yards, leaving Kelly with no chance.

Again, ‘Well would have chances. Long saw a shot from the right of the box go across and past the left post, as the introduction of Watt got them higher and higher up the park.

Then, with 11 minutes left, the game would embark on a remarkable series of events.

First, Hibernian made it 2-0. Pinball in the box saw ‘Well fail to clear the lines and when the ball eventually fell to Irvine, who was clearly in an offside position, he steered home and was awarded the goal.

Motherwell refused to give up. Two minutes later, a corner from the right fell to Ricki Lamie, who cushioned his shot into the top-left corner of the net.

Then, with two minutes left, the equaliser arrived.

O’Donnell’s perfectly weighted cross from the right met substitute Watt in the air, who headed brilliantly into the net to take it to extra time.

Neither side could make the breakthrough in the additional 30 and it went all the way to spot kicks, with Hibernian prevailing.