UNLUCKY BREAK

The Bannsiders longest serving player missed the final two months of last season after breaking a bone in his foot.

The flame-haired defender worked hard to make a comeback in the final game of the season at Newry City.

But his injury nightmare struck again on the pre-season trip to Stranraer. McVey limped out of the action against St Mirren with only 15 minutes on the clock after picking up another knock on the same foot.

Initial reports suggested there was no break, but an x-ray last week McVey suffered a hairline fracture which is set to rule him out for several weeks.

“I’m absolutely gutted,” McVey told Times Sport.

“I worked hard over the last few months to get my fitness back up and was really looking for to the start of the season after missing five months of training.

“I was having a good pre-season up until Stranraer, this is a big setback for me now.”

McVey’s disappointment was compounded by the fact that he was twice told there was no break.

“I went and got x-ray over in Scotland and they told me there was nothing wrong with it,” said McVey.

“But it just didn’t feel right, I knew something was up. So when got back home I went up to the hospital, but again I was told there was nothing wrong with it.

“The pain wasn’t going away though so I went up again last week and they reviewed my x-ray and saw that it was fractured.

“It’s a hairline fracture. I’ve a light strapping on it until my appointment on August 16th. Hopefully I’ll get some good news for a change.

“At the minute I’m not sure how long I’ll be out for.

“It will all depend on the results when I see the fracture clinic but I’m hoping it wont be long as I’m fed up sitting in the stands watching the rest of the lads.

“All I want to be doing every week is working hard in training and enjoying my football on a Saturday, and this year we’ve got an exciting team that I want to be part of.

“But I know I’ve some hard work ahead of me.

“As it’s the same foot I will need to concentrate more on strengthening my foot before I go into getting my fitness back up as I certainly don’t want it happening again.”