The season 2023/24 had all the hallmarks of Callum Slattery’s best season in professional football. Having undergone a full pre-season, a luxury he hasn’t always enjoyed in football, the then 24-year-old was looking to seriously impress as he entered the final year of his three-year deal at Motherwell.
Having played a crucial role in the turnaround of fortunes under Stuart Kettlewell during the latter stages of the previous season, Slattery was mentally prepared to meet the new season head-on.
And the early signs were positive. Two goals and an assist in the group stage of the League Cup set Slattery up for the commencement of the Premiership season. With fans impressed with the sharpness and ability shown in the early segments of the season, many were expecting him to be in the running for the club’s player of the year award.
Manager Stuart Kettlewell made no secret of the impression the number eight was leaving on him during the first-half of the season. A formidable partnership with his fellow midfielders in the form of Lennon Miller and Blair Spittal was the perfect combination for a strong start to Premiership proceedings.
As the season entered September, Motherwell’s league form would dip, with the Steelmen going 15 games without a win. But in that run, Slattery was a mainstay. In fact, by the time Motherwell travelled to Easter Road on match day 22 in January 2024, Slattery had only missed one game.
And having remained tight as a group and beginning to turn fortunes around, Motherwell drew with Hibernian and beat Livingston by the time the winter break came around.
There would be 18 days without any football being played competitively in Scotland, but what Callum Slattery didn’t know was it was going to be 396 games without wearing the claret and amber for him.
“It was the best pre-season I’d ever had,” Slattery recalled.
“It was the best shape I’d been in, and I was flying. It set me up for the league season. I had built up a really good relationship with players on the pitch, which really helped my performances, as they knew what they were getting from me, and I knew what I was getting from them.
“Then, during the first session back from the winter break, I got through the session with no troubles. I felt like I picked up from where I left off. I chased back, and maybe my body was in an awkward position, or my foot got caught, and it was just a twist. I knew straight away because of the feeling and sound that I’d done something severe.
“When I spent two or three minutes on the floor, I knew something had happened. It feels so long ago; I have to jog my memory just to think about it. I remember at the time my stomach dropped. My mindset was just, What have I done?
“You can’t get a scan straight after, so you have to wait. I got that the next day, and it’s just the fear of being out a long time. I was doing so well; I hate being injured as it is, but facing a long spell on the sidelines, even now, is tough to think about.
“I got the scan the next morning and then came home and waited on the call. It was about four or five hours after I got the call from Hendo. I knew from the tone of his voice that it wasn’t good news. And he said that it wasn’t good news and that I’d done the majority of the ligaments in my knee and that I was looking at nine to 12 months out. I’d prepared myself to hear that news, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
“I was with my partner, and I told her that it wasn’t going to be good news, phoned my dad after I found out, and he was supportive. It was a tough time.”
As Callum Slattery stepped forward to meet his new reality, the road ahead would undoubtedly present him with numerous obstacles to conquer. The initial hurdle of surgery, though necessary, was merely the beginning of a long and grueling journey toward recovery.
Physically, the rehabilitation would require immense dedication and hard work, as he navigated through the stages of strength-building, conditioning, and regaining the agility and speed that once came so naturally to him on the field.
However, it was the mental aspect of his recovery that posed a daunting challenge. Away from his teammates and the camaraderie that came with being part of a team, Callum Slattery would need to find ways to maintain his motivation and focus, pushing through the lonely moments in the gym and the early morning sessions that would now dominate his daily routine.
The absence of the sport he loved, which had once brought him so much joy and fulfilment, would also need to be replaced by new sources of motivation and drive. It was in these dark and difficult moments that Callum Slattery’s resilience, determination, and character would truly be tested.
“The worst part of the recovery process was the post-surgery,” he explained.
“The pain for the first three to four weeks is agony, and then just things like wanting to push on, but you can’t physically do that yet, for example, running when you can’t walk properly yet. Having to be patient is so hard. You want to be further along than what you are constantly.
“You spend a lot of the early stages on crutches and a brace while being stuck in bed for the first two weeks. On medication to numb the pain, and from then on you just ease yourself to one crutch, slowly start to walk, and put slight pressure on the knee. They’re small goals, but it does feel amazing when you tick them off. Going from two crutches to one was a highlight!”
This precarious situation left Slattery in a vulnerable position. As he rehabilitated from his injury, he faced the looming uncertainty of his professional future. Would Motherwell be willing to extend his contract given his lengthy absence from the pitch?
The thought of being left without a club after a season of challenges was daunting.
“Of course there was worry,” Slattery said.
“In terms of just, like, still making a living. I know some people think footballers have it all and stuff like that, but you still need to pay for a mortgage and stuff like that, and it’s all in the back of your mind. You’re thinking, Will I come back from this? Is this going to be me? Am I going to have to go down a different route in life?
“I always tried to stay positive and have that mindset not to worry about it as it’s out of my control. The darkest days were probably at the start, dealing with surgery and stuck in bed. They’re the days where you think you can’t do this for much longer. I wanted to throw the crutches in the bin.
“You go through spells where you see the light, and you might get a feeling that doesn’t feel right, and you just worry something has gone wrong. Because it’s such a long period, you get so many ups and downs, and it’s learning to deal with them and coming to terms with the fact that there are going to be days that you feel s**t. You can’t do anything about it, and it’s ok to have those days.”
But it wasn’t all negative during this absence from football. During this time, Slattery penned a new contract with the club, signing a one-year deal with the option of a further year.
And when it feels like the world is against you, a leap of faith from the club that had looked after him was just the medicine he needed.
“It settled me massively once I knew the club had my back,” the 25-year-old smiled.
“When I first got the injury, I was thinking I was in trouble because I’m out of contract when I’m still out, and I was worried where I would go to get back fit. Once I had that new deal in place, I knew I could put it to the back of my head and focus on my fitness.
“I felt maybe because I started the season well and the club knew what I was capable of that I might get something. But they’ve put their trust in me, so I just continued to work my way back.”
With the mood lifting and targets being hit with significant oomph, Slattery had an added skip in his recovering stride knowing his near future was secured and that his sole purpose was getting back to his old self.
But this journey of recovery wasn’t undertaken on his own. He had the unwavering support of his teammates every step of the way, and when the time came for him to tick off the next milestone at the training pitches, it was noticeable in just how high a regard his teammates hold him in.
“I arrived at the training pitches, and the physios kept me away from the lads so I didn’t get distracted,” he laughed.
“They wanted me to focus on my stride when running. But when I saw the training session going on, all I was thinking about was how quick everything was and how I was ever going to get back to that level. I felt miles off it. When the lads saw me, they stopped and gave me a round of applause; it was the first time they had seen me out on the pitches for about seven months.
“One thing I haven’t had to worry about too much is the technical side; that came back quite naturally. Even my first touches felt normal again, so it was just building up the fitness that has been tough. Even watching, I just thought about how much I would feel it when I went back into the sessions.
“I did plenty of running sessions that when the time came, I didn’t feel too bad. I’m still trying to get up to match fitness as it has been so long. When I first started training, it was like being drip-fed, which was frustrating. So I’d be a floater or a non-contact player; the gaffer would make it clear to watch the tackles on me or just don’t tackle me at all.
“But when I went into full training, that period of being on the bench was always going to be a few weeks. Just because the manager needs players who are fully up to speed and ready. He didn’t want to throw me into the deep end too soon, which I agreed with wholeheartedly.”
And with every session, more players would be given the opportunity to tackle Slattery as he was only getting stronger. Games would come and go, but he remained patient, and after three weeks of full, uninterrupted training sessions with no setbacks, the time had come for him to tick off his biggest and final milestone in this journey.
“It did feel weird to be on the bench against Aberdeen,” he explained.
“Putting on the kit and arriving at the same time as the lads felt a bit odd. I didn’t know during the week I’d be in the squad. When the team came through in the group chat, there was a bit of a celebration in the changing room with the boys. I was absolutely buzzing.
“I wasn’t expecting minutes; I was simply soaking up the fact I was on the bench. Warming up and being on the pitch at half-time was good, but just being back in kit was special. Don’t get me wrong; I was itching to get on that pitch, but I wouldn’t have been annoyed if I didn’t.
“I think there were three subs used over two stoppages, and it was only McGinn due to come on, so I was sat there thinking that’s me, but I was ok with that. About two seconds later, Stevie [Frail] gave me the shout, and it was so good to be back out there.
“My ar*e was going a bit when I got out there! When you’re watching, you think it’s easy to do certain things in moments. But when you get on there, it’s a different tempo with things happening so quickly, so when I was out there, I wanted to get the ball and just pass to claret and amber without messing up!
“I wasn’t expecting the reception I got; I was buzzing with it, to be honest. Fans pay every week to watch, and to get that appreciation was warm for me. We won, and I was back out there, feeling like I was back, perfect!”
Talking after his first minutes in claret and amber in 12 months, Slattery was keen to emphasise his determination to make an impact in a positive manner and contribute to the team.
A big game player with Premier League experience, Motherwell fans are well informed of what Slattery can do on the pitch. And any reservations that some of that talent and spark had been put out during the 12-month layoff were dashed within minutes of his second appearance back at Easter Road.
“Shane [Blaney] and I were standing over the free kick,” Slattery noted.
“The wall was full of giants; I’m not sure there was anyone under 6 ft 2 in! I couldn’t see the net, so we were talking for ages. We set up two of our players next to the wall to block the keeper’s view. I said to Shane that I wanted to take it, and he was fine with it.
“Just as I started my run-up, I changed my mind about going over the wall because it was too big. I wanted to try and do the keeper instead. When I saw it hit the back of the net, I didn’t really know what to do, to be honest, because we were chasing the game. I wanted to celebrate a bit more and go to the fans, but in that moment, all I was thinking about was getting another goal.
“It felt good. I didn’t expect to make the impact of scoring a goal so soon after coming back, but my nature of how I play, where I try to make things happen, may that be getting in the opponent’s head, making a creative pass, or just buying a foul, I always have the belief I can make two or three significant things happen in a game. I didn’t expect to score a goal, that’s for sure!”
The comeback was complete, and Slattery had left Motherwell fans excited by his immediate impact upon his return to action. And now for the player, alongside staying fit and healthy, he is chasing down 100 appearances for the club, something that at one stage looked beyond his grasp.
“I remember when I first got injured that I must be around that 100 mark,” he recalled.
“To hit 100 appearances at any club is massive. It’s an honour if I do it here because the club has kept belief in me throughout everything, and I want to pay everyone back. Now I’m at this stage, you do reflect a bit.
“Through the injury, I’ve had to deal with dark days. I did better than I thought I would. I’ve learnt that things out of my control, I can’t control, so don’t stress about them, as it will eat you up inside; you have to focus on the things you can change.
“I would say to anyone going through something similar that they should come to terms with the fact that there will be setbacks along the way, things won’t be the same for a while, and no matter what, you’re going to have to spend that time on the sideline. So, get used to it quickly and fill yourself with the belief you’ll come back stronger.
“Just be positive about everything as much as you possibly can.”
