Sticky gear stick

Hi, I've searched forum and can't find an answer so I hope one of you great people can help.
One of my gear selector cables snapped so I have had both long and short cables replaced. Since then, the gear stick it pretty stiff now, as an example, I go to put it into 1st from neutral and the gear stick will not automatically spring back to neutral. Also, 3rd gear seems to be very slightly out of alignment, not directly up from neutral, it's slightly more right. Everything was perfectly fine before the cable snapped. Could this just be a case of the cables being too tight or something more serious? When the cable broke I was in 2nd and drove it back home which was roughly half a mile, by time I got back, there was a slight burning smell but nothing to overpowering.
I have drove it for several miles up and down duel carriage way, which wasn't exactly slow and I don't get any burning smell or any strange noises.
Any advice, greatly appreciated as I'm no mechanic (an actual mechanic did the cables)

Many thanks
Sean

Sounds like an adjustment issue, maybe the cables could use some lubrication with a spray on dry moly lube, getting it to soak in on  the already fitted cables may be a problem though.
It sprays on wet as the moly is suspended in a solvent which evaporates to leave a dry film of moly lube, which is good as dirt and muck doesn't stick to it.

Take it back to whoever did the job, you paid for a repair & it isn’t correct. Keep taking it back until you are satisfied.
Your failure scenario mirrors, in most details, what happened with mine car & I accept changing the cables is first degree arse ache, it took me a while to adjust mine to my satisfaction, once fitted.
I’m an enthusiast amateur & might be expected to change maybe a couple, a professional should be proficient & hand your car back to within a few points of a degree, as it was before the failure.
M

Very sorry for slow reply, I've been in hospital. I would take it back to the mechanic but he has done a runner, turns out a very dodgy bloke and has screwed over nearly 100 people which has only recently come to light.
I have been told that to start with I could just try and loosen a little bit at gear stick and see if that helps and if not also do the back as well which I'd need to get someone to do which I have got lined up if needs be. Hopefully that will work as don't really want to be paying anything out if don't need to obviously.

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated

Whereabouts in the country are you Sean ?

I'm in Lowestoft, East Anglia