Stephen Bennett battling career threatening injury says Waterford boss Davy Fitzgerald

INJURY ISSUE: Stephen Bennett of Waterford is battling a career threatening hip injury. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

2020 All Star forward Stephen Bennett is battling a career threatening hip injury according to Waterford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald.

"How Stephen is actually togging out is beyond me. Lesser players would be gone. The advice he got was to go and not play. Stephen Bennett being Stephen Bennett, he doesn't want that.

"Ye probably didn't know that but that's how bad it was with him, the news he got. He is training away and he wants to get back and play for us but he will be in a bit of pain."

Bennett received two double hip operations by the age of 20 and got more bad news recently.

"The medical advice was 'you need to do a job and a serious job.' If he gets the serious job, he won't be playing hurling again."

The All Ireland minor and Under 21 winner has been part of the Déise senior set-up since 2014. The Ballysaggart ace finished as top scorer in the 2020 championship with 1-54 and was shortlisted for Hurler of the Year. He will attempt to play through the pain barrier for the county in 2024.

"He is going to try everything he can, that's the type of bloke he is. We didn't force him into this, it's Stephen's decision. He loves playing for Waterford and I just hope people appreciate what he is putting his body through.

"We've just got to go with his programme, get it done as good as we can and see where it takes us."

Jamie Barron and Tadhg De Burca also sat out Sunday's Munster Hurling League win over Tipperary.

"I think Jamie will be back training with us in the next two weeks. Tadhg is probably four weeks away from joining the squad. We've got to make sure that we get that spot on. He is working very well."

Defender Iarlaith Daly is expected to return to Waterford training shortly. Fitzgerald was pleased with Kilrossanty youngster Padraig Fitzgerald who has fired 1-19 in two outings.

"A good few lads, Padraig being one of them, showed a bit of promise. You could see how many lads were in the stand today. It was well into double figures that could potentially play championship. 

"What we're trying to do is have as strong a panel as we possibly can. The easiest thing for me today was to bring on players in my first fifteen. I know Liam did it at half time and they helped. I didn't.

"I stayed with what I had. We brought on development squad players and I have to thank them so much. They've done a great six or seven weeks of work and they were a big plus to us today."