'The doctor has given me a bit of hope': Second opinion eases James McClean's quit fears

HOPE: James McClean has been given a 'bit of hope' that he won't have to retire. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

James McClean’s enforced retirement fears appear to be a false alarm after the Ireland centurion was given a ‘bit of hope’ from a second medical opinion.

Derry City’s comeback king revealed on the eve of Friday’s historic game at Celtic Park against Shamrock Rovers that he was in last-chance saloon from a chronic hip complaint.

After being informed “his body had no business on a football pitch” by one specialist, he sought another view from a surgeon in England on Friday – just a day after turning 37.

An injection, rather than risky surgery, was the immediate medical route chosen.

“Just a quick update on the appointment with the specialist on Friday about the injury,” he said in a TikTok message on Monday morning.

“I went and saw the doctor, and it went better than I thought, to be honest.

“I was expecting surgery or retirement but that wasn’t the case.

“He gave me a bit of hope by giving me an injection and that should hopefully give me a wee bit of relief.

“In about a month to six weeks’ time, hopefully it will make me feel a wee bit like a footballer again. So, it went a lot better than I thought.”

Derry won their second match on the spin in McClean’s absence, snapping a dire start of just two victories from their opening 11 matches.

They have temporarily moved to the nearby Gaelic venue while a new grass pitch is being relayed at the Ryan McBride Brandywell.

A turnout of 7,104 for the visit of Shamrock Rovers has been touted as a springboard to regular crowds at a ground that hadn't staged a football match since 1943.