Johnny Dunleavy admits that he questioned if the intensive rehab was ‘worth it’ during a 14-month lay-off.
Dunleavy had been out of action since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a game against Limerick in June 2017.
Having made his return in a friendly against Portsmouth last month, Dunleavy started a competitive game for the first time since the injury on Sunday as he played in Cork City’s 5-1 win over Home Farm in the FAI Cup.
The 27-year-old’s career has been blighted by injury and he’s undergone four knee operations, which have tested his resolve.
“I can totally understand when you hear people say they struggle with their head sometimes and keeping going,” he said.
“I have definitely had points where I struggled and thought, ‘Am I going to get there?’ and, ‘Is it all worth it?’ that type of stuff.
“But thankfully I’ve come out the other side, I had an unbelievable support structure around me.”
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers player was thrilled to get back in the trenches again.
He said: “It’s brilliant to get back out there.
“There was a couple of times when I was almost there and then there were setbacks and little niggly things, that’s just the nature of the beast.
“I spent a long time on my own working hard in the gym. I sort of feel I owe it to myself to just enjoy it.
“I feel that’s the way I’m playing games at the moment, I’m playing with a smile on my face, every minute that I’m on the pitch, just delighted to be back.”
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