Andy O'Brien's Operation Went Wrong

By Matthew Jones
July 29 2003

O'Brien went into hospital in May for supposedly straightforward surgery on a broken nose, but the procedure failed to repair the problem, and left the United star on a drip for 72 hours.

Newcastle defender Andy O'Brien has revealed how a "routine operation" this summer went wrong and nearly ended his playing career.

O'Brien went into hospital in May for supposedly straightforward surgery on a broken nose, but the procedure failed to repair the problem, and left the United star on a drip for 72 hours.

"The operation was more of an ordeal than I was led to believe it would be," said O'Brien.

"I went into hospital under the impression that I would be in and out in an afternoon but that wasn't the case at all. In the end, I was on a drip for three days and in considerable pain after that.

"Even now, my nose has not healed as I'd have liked it to have done. I suppose it's 50% better than it was but it has bled again since and I know that if I take another bad knock in the face, it could be quite serious."

O'Brien added: "I can't dwell on what might happen, even though it's something I wouldn't want to go through again."

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