Crucial knee surgery for Oldham ace

A SERIOUS knee injury is threatening Oldham centre Mark McCully's rugby league career.

Advised to retire by a specialist, he will have an operation in November after playing for most of the season with an arthritic right knee - which was surgically reconstructed five years ago.

"I don't want to retire but I have to admit it isn't looking good," said the 32-year-old former Rochdale Hornets centre.

Mark will make a final decision at the end of this year or early 2013, depending on the success of the operation: "The consultant has told me I have no cartilage left in the knee, which is riddled with arthritis.

"At 32, time isn't on my side. But apart from the knee I feel good enough to go on for a year or two; that's why I'm reluctant to make the big decision now.


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