Stephen O'Neill has confirmed that he will play no part in the 2008 National Football League, even if Tyrone reach the latter stages.
The double All-Ireland winner and former Footballer of the Year is due to undergo surgery next week on a knee problem that blighted his season and restricted him to a handful of brief substitute appearances in this season's Championship.
He is to have an operation to cure a tendonitis condition at the Ulster Independent Clinic in Belfast next Thursday.
'I'll definitely miss the league,' said O'Neill, who has not played since the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Meath in August, leaving his club Clan na nGael to battle against relegation without their two leading players, as Brian Dooher is also on the injury list.
'I want to get the injury right and get back playing.'
O'Neill admitted that he may have been unwise to try to play through the pain barrier and risk aggravating the injury during Tyrone’s championship campaign in 2007.
'Maybe it was unwise, but when you're in the middle of the Championship, you want to be playing.
'It probably wasn’t the wisest thing to do, but hopefully I can get it right now.'
And he's glad to see the back of what has been a frustrating season, not just for himself, but for a host of Red Hand stars, including Dooher, Brian McGuigan and Mickey McGee.
'The season was a complete disaster in that way, and when you can’t get fit, it's a long struggle through the year.
'It's been tough year, and it could have been a lot worse for myself when you look at some of the injuries that other players had.
'But hopefully everyone can get their problems sorted and get back in action for next season.
'Things could be a lot different for us next year, if everyone can get their injuries sorted out.'
