Ex-Stoke City, Sunderland & West Brom ace James McClean issues career-threatening revelation | OneFootball

James McClean, formerly of Wrexham and Wigan Athletic, has revealed that he may have to retire from football due to a long-term hip injury

James McClean's career hasn't gone to plan since he returned to his first professional club, Derry City, back in January.

The former Republic of Ireland international joined Derry from Wrexham, having earned back-to-back promotions from League Two to the Championship with the Red Dragons.

Phil Parkinson's men are currently plotting a further promotion to the Premier League, but will have to achieve that feat without McClean's experience.

The versatile 37-year-old also had stints in the English game with Sunderland, Wigan Athletic, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City, winning the League One title in his second spell with the Latics.

James McClean reveals truth behind long-term hip injury

Since returning to Derry from Championship promotion contenders Wrexham, McClean has notched three assists in 11 appearances across all competitions.

The veteran, who has operated as a winger, wing-back, and midfielder in his career, hasn't made an appearance since being sent off during a 2-2 draw with Dundalk on 10 April.

That could sadly prove to be his last ever outing.

Posting on his Instagram story on Thursday, McClean wrote: "To be honest, this is a difficult post for me to write for a number of reasons, mainly due to the uncertainty of the outcome, but I feel it's best to put it in black and white.

"More importantly, to show that this is coming from me only, and that there's no speculation or rumours. For the past few years, I have been playing through difficulties with my hip, and though I have managed and played through the pain, the impact of training and playing on astro has sped up the damage much faster than I ever anticipated.

"The past six weeks have been hell. Pain is something I have been able to get on and play with throughout my career, but it is the restriction and not being able to move which is what I am struggling with physically, obviously, but also mentally.

"Never mind trying to compete on the football pitch, but just everyday life, playing with my kids, putting on socks, walking. I was told by a specialist 10 days ago that my body currently has no business being on a football pitch due to the severity of the damage to my hip.

"I respect his honesty and his expert opinion, but I have never been one to lay down without a fight. Tomorrow's appointment is a last chance for me to hopefully get a surgery, if it's even a possibility, one which will allow me to do what I have dreamt of doing, and that's being able to contribute while in an acceptable physical state to do so.

"That is playing for a club I love in Derry City. I feel it was important for me to share this because it could be a while, if ever even, until I have the opportunity to do so again."

James McClean has enjoyed many career highlights in his latter years

McClean's first trophy as a player came back in 2010, when he won the Irish second-tier title with Derry, helping them clinch promotion back to the top flight.

His exploits in Irish football impressed Sunderland, who brought him to the Premier League in the summer of 2011, and he spent two seasons with the Black Cats.

Wigan subsequently signed the then-Ireland international in the summer of 2013, and hoped that he would help them return to the top flight.

However, despite McClean's best efforts, the Latics were instead relegated to League One in 2015, and have often bounced between the second and third tier ever since.

The Wigan fan favourite went on to represent West Brom and Stoke, before returning to Greater Manchester six years on from his departure.

McClean was a highly influential figure for the Latics in their 2021/22 League One title-winning season, and notably scored a brace in a 4-0 triumph over fierce rivals Bolton Wanderers.

He was subsequently relegated from the Championship with the Greater Manchester outfit in 2023, but he went on to win two successive promotions with Wrexham.

McClean will be gutted if his hip issues cause an early retirement, but he can be proud of the fact that many of his greatest ever moments came in the latter years of his career.