Former Scotland and Wolves midfielder Kevin McDonald is set for a kidney transplant next month as the Fulham man opens up on his situation.
The experienced battler has enjoyed a fine career in football. Starting out at Dundee back in 2005, McDonald has gone on to play for Burnley, Scunthorpe United, Notts County and Sheffield United. He has made over 100 appearances for Wolves and Fulham, who he is currently with and has five Scotland caps.
Kevin McDonald has featured heavily for Fulham and Wolves. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
But he has battled a kidney problem throughout his career and has now opened up on his need for a transplant: “Football has been great but this needs to take over. I want to get it done now, make sure everything is right and come back from it and live a normal life again.
“I’m 32 and I could probably play until I’m 35. The Premier League is probably too fast, but I know where I am in my career. Will I want to play football? Will I be ready physically or mentally or do I go down the coaching route?
“I won’t know until I get the operation done and see how I will feel. I’ve prepared my whole career knowing a transplant was the end goal. We wanted it to happen after football, but the way recent test results have gone, it’s going to be quicker than that.
Will be completed soon. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
“I could hold on and have dialysis four times a week to finish my career. But there comes a point when certain things just have to be done. There are so many benefits for me to have a living donor and I owe my life to them.”
NTOF now offers a YouTube channel featuring exclusive interviews, post-match discussion, in-depth debate, and much more – LIKE and SUBSCRIBE and don’t miss any of our videos.