But now fully recovered, the Crystal Palace midfielder believes he can give Scotland his best years as the national team strives to reach a major tournament for the first time since 1998.
McArthur, who turned 29 last Friday, is desperate to be part of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in Trnava which could hold massive significance in Scotland’s attempts to reach Russia 2018.
However, he is relieved that he is in any kind of position to play a role after the trauma of the summer.
He said: “Every time I tried to push off there was a pain sensation going through my knee. I had no power at all in it.
“If I was in full running it was fine, but every time I stopped and started it was like my leg was lagging behind.
“The physio did a great job trying to build my quads up, but everything else wasn’t activating so my glutes and calves weren’t taking the shock absorb in.
“At one point I started to worry for my career, but the physios at Palace are excellent and they made sure they did everything to get me back out again.
“I missed all of pre-season and the first two games as well.
“You need that pre-season. I’m naturally quite fit, but when I came back it wasn’t a nice feeling trying to get fit during training when people are running by you and you don’t feel up to match sharpness, but I feel I am getting stronger every day in training.”
McArthur was struck down with an unrelated ankle problem last year but this was more concerning.
He added: “As a player you always worry about things like that because the game means so much to you.
“It’s hard because you just panic a wee bit more than you should when it’s a pain that’s not really common, it’s quite frustrating.”
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However, since returning to the action he has been in top form for Palace under Alan Pardew, who is one of the names in the frame to become England manager in the wake of Sam Allardyce’s departure.
McArthur said: “I’ve never been one for getting ahead of myself. I’ll just keep working hard every day in training and trying to play as well as I can.
“If I do that then hopefully I’ll stay in the team and we’ll keep winning games.
“The manager is very good. All the boys love working under him. He’s got different game-plans for different matches.
“Under Tony Pulis and Neil Warnock we were more rigid, where we sat in and played more channel balls, or more direct balls. Now we’re mixing it up.
“We’re pressing teams, passing the ball. We’re obviously playing it long at times. But it’s been a very enjoyable start to the season.
“From what I’ve read the manager is concentrated on Palace so we’re happy about that at the club.
“We know that he’s a good manager I don’t see why he couldn’t be England boss, but hopefully he stays.”
McArthur disagrees with Seventies star Archie Gemmill, who believes the Scots should forget about beating England and try for one of the best second place spots – he wants to win the group.
“That’s not my approach, my approach is trying to win every __football match,” said McArthur.
“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing against, even if it’s the best team in the world or the worst team.
“That’s what makes us better and stronger.”