KEITH ANDREWS: A life without football

The Ireland midfielder on how an enforced lay-off through injury has helped reinforce his conviction that a player should always be mindful of the day the final whistle blows.

Unfortunately this week I’m writing this column lying on the sofa with my leg elevated on multiple cushions. My Achilles has been niggling on and off all season and flared up quite badly as I upped my training schedule on my return from a thigh strain. After seeing two different Achilles specialists in London last week, it was decided the best course of action was to operate.

So on Tuesday morning I made my way down to London for surgery which James Calder would perform. Ironically, I’ve planned to go to Cheltenham the last two years but due to injury on each occasion have been unable to attend. Needless to say I’m not making any plans to go there next year!