Patrick McBrearty will make his long-awaited return to action with Kilcar in the All-County Football League next month.
McBrearty, who is already back training with Donegal, is nearing the completion of his rehabilitation from a rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament last June.
Kilcar host Glenswilly in Towney on Sunday-week, April 7, in their Division 1 opener before traveling to Milford the following week.
Donegal manager Declan Bonner has confirmed that McBrearty will tog out for Kilcar as he bids to be ready for the start of Donegal’s Ulster SFC defence at the end of May against Fermanagh.
“Patrick is back training and he will get a number of club matches under his belt in April to get ready for the Championship, Bonner said.
“He’s in good shape. He has worked hard is probably slightly ahead of schedule. He has got his rehab done and it’s been a long road, maybe eight months, since he had his operation.
“He’s in a good place now.”
Brearty sustained the injury to his left knee during Donegal’s Ulster final win over Fermanagh in June.
He had been in excellent form, having hit a combined 18 points in Donegal’s opening three Ulster SFC games of 2018 and was one of the form players in the country at the time of his injury.
Bonner noted that McBrearty had been working diligently under his medical team, Mr Kevin Moran, Cathal Ellis and the Dublin-based Enda Long.
Bonner said: “It’s great to see him back. He’s had a long road to recovery.
“He’s worked extremely hard and he’s back on the pitch again. Everything is going according to plan and he’ll be ready come the Championship.”
