Dean Shiels to Undergo Surgery
Hibernian player Dean Shiels is to undergo surgery to tackle problems caused by an injury sustained in childhood.
The young Nothern Ireland international, who will be 21 next month, is to have an eye removed. The eye has been sightless since a domestic accident when Dean was eight years old.
Manager Tony Mowbray emphasised that Dean remained an important member of the squad, that throughout his football career he has had vision in one eye, and that he would continue to be an important player for the Club following the operation. He added: “Dean has shown us that he is a young man of remarkable spirit and determination in achieving all that he has done already in the game – he earned his first full international cap in recent months - despite having no sight in one eye. That same spirit will see him achieve even more in his career in the future.
“What is amazing is that Dean has adapted so fantastically that people who don’t know him well have been entirely unaware of this.”
In deciding to opt for the surgery, Dean has reluctantly decided to speak publicly for the first time about the injury.
He said: “Since the accident, I have had no sight at all in the eye despite several operations when I was younger. At that time it was always envisaged that there might come a time when the damaged eye might have to be removed.
“In the past few months, the condition of the eye has deteriorated and it has been causing me other problems such as severe headaches.
“I have had specialist advice, and after talking this over with my family I have taken the decision to have the eye removed now. While it is important that the fans understand the reason that I am not involved at the moment, I don’t want people to make too big a deal of this. I will be very happy if I am just allowed to get on with the operation and then get back to playing football once I have fully recovered.
“I have had no sight in the eye since before I started playing football, so I suppose it is something I have just grown up with and never really regarded as a problem. However I am keen to be back involved with the squad, and the problems I’m encountering now need to be resolved to allow me to get back to what I enjoy most – playing football.”
Dean hopes to undergo the operation within the next few weeks, and will then begin his recovery period. Rod Petrie, Chairman, said: “Everyone at the Club is behind Dean, and the Hibernian family will support him throughout his recovery. Dean is a talented player and we all look forward to seeing him back playing again as soon as possible.”
source: www.hibernianfc.co.uk
Hibernian player Dean Shiels is to undergo surgery to tackle problems caused by an injury sustained in childhood.
The young Nothern Ireland international, who will be 21 next month, is to have an eye removed. The eye has been sightless since a domestic accident when Dean was eight years old.
Manager Tony Mowbray emphasised that Dean remained an important member of the squad, that throughout his football career he has had vision in one eye, and that he would continue to be an important player for the Club following the operation. He added: “Dean has shown us that he is a young man of remarkable spirit and determination in achieving all that he has done already in the game – he earned his first full international cap in recent months - despite having no sight in one eye. That same spirit will see him achieve even more in his career in the future.
“What is amazing is that Dean has adapted so fantastically that people who don’t know him well have been entirely unaware of this.”
In deciding to opt for the surgery, Dean has reluctantly decided to speak publicly for the first time about the injury.
He said: “Since the accident, I have had no sight at all in the eye despite several operations when I was younger. At that time it was always envisaged that there might come a time when the damaged eye might have to be removed.
“In the past few months, the condition of the eye has deteriorated and it has been causing me other problems such as severe headaches.
“I have had specialist advice, and after talking this over with my family I have taken the decision to have the eye removed now. While it is important that the fans understand the reason that I am not involved at the moment, I don’t want people to make too big a deal of this. I will be very happy if I am just allowed to get on with the operation and then get back to playing football once I have fully recovered.
“I have had no sight in the eye since before I started playing football, so I suppose it is something I have just grown up with and never really regarded as a problem. However I am keen to be back involved with the squad, and the problems I’m encountering now need to be resolved to allow me to get back to what I enjoy most – playing football.”
Dean hopes to undergo the operation within the next few weeks, and will then begin his recovery period. Rod Petrie, Chairman, said: “Everyone at the Club is behind Dean, and the Hibernian family will support him throughout his recovery. Dean is a talented player and we all look forward to seeing him back playing again as soon as possible.”
source: www.hibernianfc.co.uk
