Title Win Helped Heal The Scars

Jan 20 2008 By Scott Mcdermott

BRAVE Inverness Caley star Markus Paatelainen has a 100-stitch scar on his calf as a constant reminder of when he was just hours away from having a leg amputated.

But the 24-year-old Finnish midfielder insists every time he looks at it, it brings back nothing but happy memories.

The ex-Cowdenbeath player's career was almost over two years ago after he was hit by a horror tackle from Elgin's Hugh Dickson.

What Markus thought was simply a dead leg turned into something much worse as his calf ballooned to treble its size.

Incredibly, Markus' right leg was left cut open for three days as surgeons desperately tried to save it. It was feared he would lose the limb and Cowden boss at the time Mixu was reduced to tears by his brother's plight.

But the swelling eventually receded and doctors were able to sew the leg back up by inserting 50 stitches on either side of the calf.

After his leg healed Markus returned to football for the Station Park outfit and then earned a move to Caley last January.

Markus' scar is still clear to see but rather than shudder he admits it reminds him of winning the Third Division title with the Blue Brazil. He said: "It was a tackle to my calf, a really bad one.

"Mixu wasn't happy and said it's one of the worst he has ever seen.

"It was like a dead leg and when I went back on the team bus to Fife the calf started swelling up.

"It became really tight and was starting to die. I had 'compartment syndrome' where the veins close up and the blood flow stops.

"It was so tight they had to slice it open on both sides and keep it open for three days to let it breathe.

"And when they sewed it up it needed 100 stitches. I was in hospital for a week and it was quite a close call - a couple of hours later and I would have lost my leg.

"I didn't realise it at the time but my brothers were so upset.

"In the end I was back playing in a few months but when I look at the scars it reminds me of how fortunate I am to still be playing.

"But those same scars also remind me of the season we won the title so it's not all bad."

Paatelainen will be hoping to continue his comeback from an Achilles problem today in the live TV clash against Rangers at the Caledonian Stadium.

His contract runs out at the end of the campaign but he believes he can prove to boss Craig Brewster he's worthy of a run in the team and a new deal.

Markus said: "I've only just played my first game this season so I haven't been able to show the manager that much.

"But last season I grabbed a couple of goals and that's what I can do - score. The gaffer says he likes how I go about my training.

"He has urged me to take my chance when it comes and that's what I intend to do.

"My contract is up at the end of the season and I'd like to stay.

"My priority is to establish myself in the Inverness team as it is a great stage to show people back home what I can do.

"I've won Under-21 caps for Finland and everyone there is following the SPL now especially with Mixu going back to Hibs."