The school of hard knocks

It’s been a bit like being stuck inside an episode of ‘Hospital Requests’ in these parts lately as one Ireland player after another hobbles in to speak to us of their injury woes.

First it was Stephen Hunt explaining the extraordinary lengths to which he’s been going in a bid to overcome recurring hip and groin problems. Then this week Sean St Ledger was in Dublin talking about the possibility of having to undergo surgery to drain blood which has built up around a torn hamstring, a complicated and rare condition which, as he explained with downcast eyes, has thus far foiled all attempts at a cure.

Both men expressed confidence it would all come good in the end, of course, even if St Ledger had to concede he couldn’t put a date on his likely return to competitive action. As seasoned pros on the other side of the microphone, we all nod dutifully when players say things like this and perhaps even mutter a few kindly words of encouragement. But when it comes to any serious, long-term injury, especially in the case of older players, the practiced eye for the headline means that sooner or later we’ll get around to asking the elephant-in-the-room question: has it ever crossed your mind/is there any danger of/ has anyone mentioned the possibility that...um...this could be the end of your career as a professional footballer?