Manchester United keeper Paul Woolston has revealed the heartbreaking moment he realised he had no choice but to retire from football aged 23 - when doctors warned he may not walk again if he continued.
Woolston confirmed he was quitting the sport last month after struggling with a chronic hip injury. The club said the Under-23 star's decision came after a 'significant determination to return to fitness, including two operations and a lengthy rehabilitation period'.
The former Newcastle star has been showered with support from United and senior keepers David de Gea, Dean Henderson and Lee Grant before giving an emotional address to confirm his retirement.
But now Woolston has lifted the lid on what said between himself and the doctors who informed him of how serious his injury was having gone under the knife twice in in March and April last year.
He revealed the specialists told him the condition was so severe that he may require a hip replacement by the age of 25 - and after that he could have difficulties walking in the future.
'I completely zoned out,' he told BBC Sport. 'Is he talking about me? Is this real? Surely this is wrong? It can't be me. It can't be right.
'The advice of the specialists was if I continued for another two years, my way of life would be totally different, that I would struggle to walk,' says the former England youth player.
'It would be a full hip replacement at the age of 25. From there it is a long road. It was simple things like, if I am lucky to have kids in the future, I didn't want to say: "Sorry, I can't do it because I have ruined my hip".'
Woolston was full of praise for United after giving him the support he needed to help him in the next chapter of his life.
He said he was happy to have started a discussion of mental health in football after telling people about his story, as he admitted his internal struggles to come to terms with the news.
'It took a while to deal with it,' he continued. 'At the start there was lots of "why me's?," "what have I done wrong?". I wasn't wishing it on anyone else but it was: "Why couldn't it happen to someone else?" I was right at the start of my career. It hasn't really started. It was like: "Why? Why has it stopped my dreams coming true?"
'Once I fully understood what I needed to do, it was easier to know why instead of blaming myself and others. It is something that happened. It is life. It is tough. It is difficult. But there is not much you can do.'
He said he was 'scared' by the idea of progressing in his life without football, but is keeping optimistic he can use his experience in the game to 'make a name for myself' later on.
'It is quite scary,' he added. 'But it is also quite exciting. There is a world out there I haven't even dipped my toe into.
'I have a determination to succeed and that will never change. In two years' time I want to be starting to make a name for myself. I know it is not going to be easy. It is a difficult road and it takes time but I will come back.
'Mentally I want to be in a good place. I will be settled hopefully and using every bit of experience and advice to make me the person I want to be.'
C1TY4EVER
398
that is really sad news because imagine you just start football career and then you injured.then, you have been warned you never walk again and been told to retire. that is really a sad news. hope you can get another good job after your retirement