O’Connor back after injury hell
IT seems the whole of football is willing former Wolves midfielder Kevin O’Connor to succeed in rebuilding a career shattered by devastating injury.
The 22-year-old Dubliner is currently on trial with Walsall and came through the 4-2 home defeat to Sheffield United midweek with no ill effects apart from reporting some stiffness – which is hardly a surprise in the first competitive match for two years.
Manager Jimmy Mullen said: “He is with us for a few days. He came through against the reserves and he played very well. It is far to early to say that he is completely over his injury because it was horrendous. It is not that many years ago that you would have said he was finished but because of advances in medical science he is in a position now where, hopefully, he can further his career.
“He has come to us and we can look at him and he can look at us and we will take it from there.”
Mullen said that his understanding was that O’Connor, who had come through the Wolves youth system, had torn his hamstring away from the bone in an accident in 2006. A year later after rehabilitation the same thing happened again in training and he went to Scandinavia for an operation in November 2007.
Mullen said: “He has played for the Republic of Ireland at every level up to U21 level and he is a good player, a good footballer.
“We just have to wait and see if he can have a run of games under his belt and not have a problem.
“He is a great lad, his attitude is fantastic and I for one hope that whether it is here or somewhere else, he does get a career because he deserves it.”
