KYLE Jacobs has admitted that he feared the worst when he pulled his hamstring during Morton's victory over Dunfermline last month.

The 29-year-old overstretched trying to prevent a Dom Thomas cross from going into the box and immediately required treatment before being substituted at East End Park.

After five weeks on the sidelines, Jacobs has his sights set on playing in Anton McElhone’s side again after returning to training on Tuesday.

The ex-Livingston man says he worried it would take him at least two months to overcome the injury and he believes he's lucky to be back in training sooner than expected.

He told the Tele: “I had my first training session back on Tuesday, which was good, so I just need to start building the muscle back up to then build myself back up with my match fitness.

“I’m not going to lie, I thought it was a lot worse at the time than what it’s turned out to be.

“Luckily it was just a grade one strain, so thankfully it’s been a shorter turn around than anticipated.

“When it happened, I felt it pop and I thought it had pulled in a similar way to when it happened when I was younger because it was the exact same feeling.

“My original thought was that I'd be out for six to eight weeks if I was lucky, but it ended up easing off later on on the Saturday night, so I’ve definitely got off lightly as such.

Morton boss gives Jacobs injury update

“I just need to get some training sessions under my belt and get myself fit again and work my way back in gently, because with a hamstring injury you don’t want to overdo it and re-injure yourself again.

“Hopefully I can just keep going from strength to strength and be back fighting for a place sooner rather than later.

“It felt really good to even be back out on the training pitch, even just getting back in amongst the group and being able to join in training, it was really good.

“It’s tough being injured normally, because you usually feel quite isolated but now with all the Covid protocols in place, it’s even more lonely than usual.

“You’re usually with the physio yourself and you're apart from the group and now obviously you don’t get to travel to away games which is really frustrating, but that just helps you get even more motivated to come back quicker.”

Jacobs is keen to fight his way back into the squad and help Morton continue their four-game unbeaten run.

But the South African is under no illusion to the challenge that lies in front of him with the team performing so well.

He said: “The injury probably came at a really bad time with the amount of games that we had coming up over the Christmas period, but we had a few games off which has probably worked in my favour.

“The fact it happened in Anton’s first game probably couldn’t have been worse for me, but thankfully, the boys dug deep, played well and got a result, which has turned into a good run of form whilst I’ve been out injured.

“That was a good thing to see, obviously when you’re out you want the boys to do well so it was good to see the results keep on coming in, the boys were unlucky against Alloa and probably did enough to come away with the three points, but to see the results stay positive was really pleasing.

“All of that just helps motivate me to get myself fit and fight for my place back in the team, because the squad have been doing so well."