Alix Mendez on the comeback trail at Aberdeen
Alix Mendez in action for Aberdeen.
Former Cork City player Alix Mendez's dream move to Women’s Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen hit a bump in the road when she picked up an injury in May.
At first, Mendez didn’t think it was anything too serious, but once she had it properly checked, it turned out she had done quite a bit of damage to my ankle.
She ended up in a boot and on crutches for a while. Initially, she was told she could be out for up to nine months, which was really tough to hear.
However, after an MRI, it was confirmed that the recovery time would be closer to two months, which was a massive relief. Mendez was out for 10 weeks before she got the MRI, so the recovery time was sry for four months altogether.
“The pain is still lingering a bit, but I’ve been back running since last week, which is a big positive.
“I’ve still got some work to do before I’m ready for full training, but I’m getting there, step by step.
“My injury happened just before the season ended, so I returned home to Ireland about a week later.
“While I was back home, I was doing rehab on my own, mainly working in the gym and doing pool sessions, still unsure of the full extent of the injury. It wasn’t until I returned to Aberdeen and got an MRI that we were able to confirm the damage. Since then, I’ve been doing my rehab at the club with the help of our physio.
“Most of the rehab has been gym-based, focusing on strengthening the area around my ankle and building up muscle. I’ve really tried to make the most of the time by prioritising gym work and overall conditioning. The good news is I’ve started running on the pitch again as of last week, which is a big step forward and a real boost."
The mental side of my recovery were definitely difficult
"There were moments when it felt like things just weren’t improving, the pain was still there even after a long period of rest and rehab and that was really frustrating. I also found it difficult being away from home.
"I got quite homesick at times, especially because injury rehab can be quite isolating. You're separated from the team environment, and doing most of the work on your own can feel lonely.
Being in a boot made everyday tasks more challenging too. I’m a really independent person, so not being able to do things for myself the way I normally would was tough. Losing that sense of independence, even temporarily, was hard."
The standout game of her time with Aberdeen to date was the Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden Park.
"It was the biggest moment of my career so far.
It was a really proud moment for both me and them.
“Another huge highlight was making my debut. It was my first official game as a professional, my first start, and my mom was there to see it.
"However, I also had the chance to play at Pittodrie, which was unbelievable. The whole occasion just felt so professional, everything from the build-up to the atmosphere. I loved every minute of it and to top it off, we came away with three points, so that made it even better."
She's not back in full training just yet.
"I’m back running on the pitch, which is a big step forward. I’ve also been back in the gym with the team, which has been great. That sense of being around the squad again, having that team environment, it’s something I really missed during rehab. Even though I’m not fully back yet, just being involved day-to-day has made a big difference to me mentally.
"First and foremost, my priority is to get back fit as soon as possible. Once I’m fully fit, I’m going to work as hard as I can to earn my place back in the team. From there, consistency is a big goal for me, I want to perform at my best week in, week out, both in training and in matches.
"As for the team, I’m hopeful that we can finish in the top six this season, and I truly believe it’s within our reach."
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