MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper Paul Woolston retired last month to avoid the risk of being unable to walk in the future. Woolston, 23, hung up his gloves last month following a lengthy period on the treatment table. The youngster was out of action for more than a year due to a hip injury, with specialists warning […]
MANCHESTER UNITED goalkeeper Paul Woolston retired last month to avoid the risk of being unable to walk in the future.
Woolston, 23, hung up his gloves last month following a lengthy period on the treatment table.
The youngster was out of action for more than a year due to a hip injury, with specialists warning Woolston his problem could be far more serious down the line if he continued playing.
That led the keeper to make the difficult choice to call a halt on his career.
In an interview with BBC Sport he recalled his meeting with specialists, saying: “I completely zoned out. 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.
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“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.'”
Fortunately, United have been very supportive of Woolston with every senior goalkeeper at the club sending him a message of support.
Woolston revealed the club have offered him the guidance he needs to not only deal with retirement but also the last several months he has spent out injured.
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Woolston added: “I am pleased the topic of mental health is out there now.
“The club have been brilliant in what they have been able to offer and the guidance they have given. Having that support has made the last 12 to 14 months much easier.
“Going back a few years, I would probably have been just out of the door. But they have given me time to get fit for life and help me on the next part of the journey.”
