GALWAY FORWARD MICHAEL Meehan has not ruled out a return to inter-county football if he can recover from an ankle injury which has plagued him for the last four years.
The 29-year old announced last Friday that he was opting out of the Galway squad for this year in an effort to finally sort out a debilitating injury to his left ankle.
He has had surgery a number of times in an effort to recover from it but weakening cartilage has compounded the problem and he believes the best thing at this stage is to take a break and try work his way back.
“It is frustrating and it is disappointing to have to step aside. I have managed it quite well over four years but I suppose every year you go on it gets more frustrating and harder.
“But the nature of the injury which is there is that there is a serious bit of damage done to my ankle. It doesn’t play to any script. I played a lot of football last year but it took a lot out of the ankle.
“Where I am now at the minute it feels as if I am a long way away from getting anywhere near inter-county football. The best thing for me right now is to step aside and hopefully let things settle and maybe try and get back at a slower pace back to club football initially. If it goes well then we will see after that,” said the Caltra clubman.
Meehan said that he has had to manage the injury over the past few years and try pursue his career at the same time, but he just feels he can’t continue at the moment.
“I have a good medical team supporting me all the way through this and it is just at this stage it is as much for myself as well at this stage to take a break from it and see if we can get it going again.
“It has been a management thing over the years and that is what I am going to try to do again this year but from a much slower base I suppose.”
Meehan, whose brother Declan is a Galway selector this year, has not played for the Tribesmen since last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Cork in Croke Park, and feels that it is best for everyone if he detaches himself from the squad and tries to recover.
“The hardest part is not being able to play, not bring able to contribute yourself. It is much easier play a game than watch a game. It is disappointing, especially the lads working hard and not everything going their way at the minute.
“If I thought I could be in a position to help them I would but it is too far away and after that I don’t really know so we will just see how it goes.
“There is structural damage done and I have had surgery two or three times on it at this stage and it is probably as repaired as much as it can . But there is certainly damage done that is irreparable at this stage,” added Meehan, who made his senior debut for Galway in 2003.
Possibly the most talented footballer in Ireland but has had a horrendous run of luck with injury.