Derry City’s club captain Kevin Deery has undergone surgery to rectify a career-threatening knee injury.
Kevin Deery.
The operation on the midfielder’s left knee was carried out yesterday morning in a Belfast hospital. He was expected to be discharged last night.
In a message posted on the official Derry City website, Deery said “everything went well” but went no further than that.
He said: “Everything went well. The doctor was saying that he did more work than anticipated but he’s happy. I’ll be on crutches for four weeks now and we’ll see how things go after that.”
The 28-year-old has been plagued with knee problems and underwent major surgery last year in the hope of correcting the problem.
He has made just nine league appearances for the Candy Stripes this season.
Despite the possibility of having to hang up his boots, he remains positive he can continue to have a say in the fortunes of his hometown club.
Speaking before yesterday’s surgery, he said: “Yes, this could be my last season with Derry but I still have a bit of hope that there could be a success story after this operation.”
Deery began playing with Derry City in 2001 and has been with the club ever since. He has been part of five League Cup winning squads and scored in the 6-1 2008 final win over Wexford Youths. He was also part of Derry’s FAI Cup wins in 2002 and 2006.
He also made 15 league appearances during Derry City’s First Division title winning season of 2010 and on the club’s return to the Premier Division in 2011 he made 27 league appearances, scoring twice.
Last year he turned down a move to Sligo and helped Derry win the FAI Cup.
Internationals Paddy McCourt, Niall McGinn and James McClean were among the former Derry City players who lined out for his testimonial in June last.
He gained legendary status with City fans when he scored twice in Derry’s historic 5-1 hammering of Scottish club Gretna in a Uefa Cup third-round qualifier at Fir Park in August 2006.
Both strikes were from 30 yards but it was his second, a spectacular angled drive, that many believe is the greatest goal ever scored by a Derry City player.
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