O'Neill facesa long spell on sideline

Tyrone have been rocked by yet more bad news on the injury front, with the prospect of Stephen O'Neill missing the entire season.

The former All Star, Footballer of the Year and double All-Ireland winner is set to miss the National Football League campaign because of complications in his rehabilitation following knee surgery. There are also genuine fears he could miss the Ulster championship.

He is one of three key Tyrone attackers who have been hit by injuries which threaten their participation in the league, with captain Brian Dooher and Brian McGuigan also in recovery.

O'Neill was dogged throughout last season by a knee tendonitis problem, which eventually required surgery. He met medical specialists in Belfast last week, when he was informed that a combination of surgery and a specially-designed programme of physiotherapy exercises had not had the desired effect. O'Neill faces the prospect of further investigative treatment.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has admitted O'Neill's chances of making his return in the national league are slim.

"It's something that we have to get on with. But it is very disappointing for Stephen. What makes it even worse is that initially the set of exercises designed to help with the rehabilitation of the knee looked to be going well.

"Now, however, a new set of problems have appeared. There is still some pain and obviously we need to try and get to the source of the problem. Of course it's difficult both for the player and for Tyrone but we have to take a positive attitude," Harte said.