McPhail faces cancer battle
Monday November 23 2009
Stephen McPhail has been diagnosed with cancer. The Cardiff City midfielder -- best known for his early career with Leeds where he was tipped as an Irish star of the future -- has been told by doctors that he has stage one malt lymphoma.
The 29-year-old will now undergo three weeks of treatment and Cardiff hope that it will be enough of a success for the Rush native to be able to return to football in January. McPhail met a specialist on Saturday and has been put on medication. He had surgery last month to have a lump removed before it emerged that the problem was more serious.
The stylish midfielder has settled in the Welsh capital after a topsy-turvy period in his life as Leeds United crumbled around him and injuries halted his progress. He captained Cardiff to the FA Cup final in 2008 and was invited to the Algarve training camp by Giovanni Trapattoni afterwards, but failed to re-ignite his international ambitions.
Irish Independent
