A few minutes' work in the dying embers of a done and dusted cup tie wouldn't ordinarily set Chris Cadden's heart racing.

But these last eight months have been anything but ordinary. It wasn't so long ago that a torn achilles had him couchbound, unable to even make himself a cup of coffee as he fought to keep the dark thoughts at bay - easier said than done when all you have is time to sit and stew. So much has changed at Hibs since May 27 last year - new manager, new players, fresh investment - and Cadden will have wondered whether he would play any part in that future.

But those doubts vanished on Saturday as Nick Montgomery selected an opportune moment to let the 27-year-old back onto the pitch, before orchestrating a dressing room ovation for a player forced to dig so deep just to retake his seat in it.

“This is a real high," said Cadden. "I was still nervous even though the game was almost done – my heart was going. You do miss the pre-match nerves and adrenaline. It’s been a long eight months, but just delighted to be back out there. It felt as good as I thought it would.

“The manager told me just to relax, be calm, and enjoy myself, which I what I tried to do. It’s been a really up and down eight months – I’ve been through it, and it’s great to be back.

READ MORE: Chris Cadden Q&A on Hibs comeback, dark moments and dressing room ovation

“It was a little bit emotional. It’s been a long time but the gaffer made a point of saying well done and leading a round of applause. I can’t thank the club enough for how they’ve been with me.

“From top to bottom – the manager, the boys have been almost as buzzing as me with every single step I’ve taken. The physio Gav Dempsey, I need to give a shout out to, Kieran Duffy, those boys have been tremendous with me.

“They’ve been there on my bad days and good days. The gaffer making a point to do that, as well, it was nice."

There is no lonelier place in football than the treatment table, and yet Cadden's team-mates sought to ensure he did not feel as though this torturous path was one he had to walk alone. 

"Of course, there are dark days but those boys get you through. It was more that every step was big for me – getting out my boot, starting to learn how to walk again, then getting on the pitch and seeing how buzzing they all were for me.

“The day after that everybody came up to me and said well done. It means the world to me.

“It’s like a family in there, we really are all very close. They’ve got me through it. They saw me when I was down and picked me up. It’s nice how appreciate they all were.

“The worst moment was in the boot. Those first few weeks were a really tough time, stuck in the house, foot up and can’t move or walk.

“I’m an active guy but I couldn’t even make myself a cup of coffee. I was relying on my missus to run about for me – it’s nice for the first day or so before you want to be up being independent.

“That was a tough time, feeling sorry for myself and asking ‘why did this happen to me?’ You’ve just got to get on with it, and work as hard as you possibly can to get back where you were.

“Hopefully I start reaping the benefits of that work."

Hibs made relatively light work of Inverness Caledonian Thistle to book their place in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals, with goals from Myziane Maolida, Martin Boyle and Elie Youan easing passage through a potentially dangerous trip to the Highlands. 

Cadden's role in it was brief as Montgomery stressed the importance of managing his return with the utmost care. His natural instinct would be to go from zero to 100 as soon as he was permitted to put the boots back on, especially considering how keen he is to repay his manager's much-appreciated approach to his rehabilitation. 

READ MORE: Hibs instant analysis - Better balance, clinical Boyle, depth improving

"That’s what I need to remember, because I’ll just want to go and play minutes now I’m back" said Cadden. "But you have to realise you’ve been out for eight months. The manager has been great that way, as well, he’s not put any pressure on me.

"It’s not been ‘we need you back’, it’s more like ‘whenever you feel ready’. There’s been a lot of change at the club since my last game (May 27 2023). The new manager has been great.

“On his second day, he pulled me and asked me how I was doing. At every single step, he’s been great with me and today was brilliant. I can’t ask for any more from him.

“But it is frustrating when you just want to impress and show what you can do. That’s my job now."

Hopefully I can get more minutes and help the boys for the rest of the season."