DOWN footballer Caolan Mooney has said he does not yet know when he will be able to return to action after an assault which left him with a bleed on the brain.
The 26-year-old was discharged from hospital on Tuesday, just over a week after he suffered a catalogue of injuries in the early hours of December 30.
The personal trainer was at Merchant’s Quay in Newry, outside the Canal Court Hotel, when he sustained head injuries and a fractured jaw.
His brother Patrick (32), who had returned from the US to spend Christmas in Newry for a first family reunion in nine years, suffered a broken nose in the same incident.
Hours earlier Caolan had been part of the Down team that defeated Fermanagh in the McKenna Cup.
The Rostrevor man was taken to Daisy Hill Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Doctors discovered he had suffered a fractured skull, had bleeding on the brain and a fractured jaw.
Speaking to The Irish News after his release from hospital, he said due to the fracture of his skull, he will be unable to to do any sport for a couple of months.
"I don’t have any plans at the minute because I’m just recovering with my skull so I don’t know when I’ll be able to get back to football unfortunately."
Read More: Down GAA's Caolan Mooney thanks people for support following assault
Caolan told how he is suffering side-effects from his injuries.
"(My) injuries were fracture to my skull, a bit of a fracture to my jaw, and a bit of bleeding to my brain. In the hospital I was just being treated with painkillers, tablets, injections," he said.
"Health is feeling a bit better. My head does get very sore at certain stages, I feel a bit light headed walking about sometimes also as well."
The former Aussie Rules player, who last night was at Páirc Esler in Newry cheering on his Down teammates as the played Antrim in a McKenna Cup game, said he can't remember anything of what happened before waking up in an ambulance.
"I was unconscious for a while, taken to Daisy Hill and then moved to (the) Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. I only remember waking up in Sprucefield," he said.
He said he was "just relaxing now until I’m recovered so I can (get) back playing football", as well as making preparations for his wedding to Down ladies footballer Adair Trainor in 2021.
Caolan added that that he is thankful to all those who have sent him get well wishes.
"It's great to receive so many wishes from people," he said.
"I will just say thanks for writing to me and wishing me well."
Two men have been charged in connection with assaults on Caolan and Patrick Mooney.
