We are having a bit of down time at the moment.

We are not on our strict training programme that we had been doing since the lockdown. I have taken a few days off but have still been working out to keep myself ticking over. I have been doing some work on the bike.

It is important for everyone to get out of the house and do a bit of exercise at the moment, not just professional footballers.

So I am still doing a good bit of work without overdoing it. I have done a lot of good work over the last five weeks and I do not want to lose it.

I am used to continuously going for long spells playing football without a break, and I was really enjoying my football there, so I want to keep myself ticking over.

During the next couple of weeks we are going to start on another programme that will hopefully lead us into starting back at the training ground. Fingers crossed but it is just a waiting game at the moment.

You can get bogged down in all the different scenarios. It is just a waiting game for us and we have to be ready for when the time comes.

Opportunity

I’m not sure what the future holds in terms of getting back to playing football. I know talk has been made about playing behind closed doors and whilst it may not be ideal I think most now recognise it might be a necessary compromise to get football going again in this country.

I was involved in one closed doors game with Northern Ireland. It was away to Serbia in 2011. I did not play in the game in Belgrade, but remember there were around 200 Northern Ireland fans who had made the trip so were allowed in, plus about 100 friends and family from the Serbian team. It was still a very strange experience inside a 55,000 stadium.

It would be even more strange playing in front of no fans at all, but it would allow us the chance to get back playing and I think everyone would welcome that.

It will only happen though when it is safe to do so and that means no corners can be cut. The plans have to be very thorough. It could for example mean we have to get tested before and after games. When the safety measures are in place and the government give the go ahead, then hopefully we can get back playing again.

Physical Side

The one thing this downtime has given me is a proper break from the game, something as I say I am not used to.

During a season you are very often carrying little knocks, little problems and trying to manage them as best you can with the medical team, making sure a small problem does not become more serious. So without any contact, the body will hopefully be in good shape for our return. I am not saying it will add years onto my career, but hopefully I might benefit in the long run.

As you get older you do have a better understanding of your body and what you need to do to look after it. I think what is particularly key is the recovery process. The older you get the more you concentrate on that.

For example, I do the hot and cold baths – in one for a short period of time, then the other one and do that continuously for ten minutes. I try and get as much of a recovery into the system as possible without cutting any corners.

Before the lockdown we were playing three games in a week and I was managing to play all three games and I felt good for it. That was possible because I was looking after myself. Also maybe at that stage of the season you are doing less training because your fitness is there, so the recovery is key.

A big part of that is eating the right things as well. I’ve a lot more time to think and prepare what I am going to eat at the moment.

I have been doing quite a number of Q&A’s with the AFC Youth Academy players, and some youngsters from home and I got asked what I eat on a matchday. So for an youngsters reading this, I would have porridge about 8am then go for a sleep. Around 11:30-12noon I have toast and chicken carbonara normally.

Mental side

Having a break from playing helps you from the mental side and you become refreshed, which is just as important as being physically fit. It makes you even more hungry to go back and do well and to keep enjoying what you are doing. It makes you even hungrier to enjoy the training sessions as well as obviously the matches.

Before I signed for Aberdeen the second time, I had a little break around Christmas and that was the first real break I had for about ten years.

Positive attitude

So I am trying to look at the positives at the moment, but like everyone else I can’t wait to get back playing again.

It will be a great feeling walking into the training ground and seeing all the boys and there is no better feeling than on a matchday playing in front of all the fans.

The thing I like most about being a footballer is the fact you are doing something that you love and you are getting paid for it. I enjoy going to work every day. There is never a day when you don’t feel like going to work. Whether you win, lose or draw, you look forward to getting out on the training pitch on a Monday morning.

Hopefully that Monday will come soon for all of us.

Niall was speaking to the Red Matchday Editor.

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