Stephen Ireland displays gruesome surgery treatment after Sunday League horror leg break

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Former Manchester City star Stephen Ireland has revealed the gruesome post-surgery scars after his Sunday league double leg-break. The Republic of Ireland international took to social media in the latest update after needing to go under the knife after breaking both his tibia and fibula during a veterans cup final.

In a series of posts to his Instagram on Saturday, Ireland was shown walking into the facility on crutches with the caption: "Nice early morning wake up to get clips/sutures out." In a separate story, he shared a black and white snap of his leg out of a cast with visible scars and stitches.

The injury occurred earlier this month during Ireland's run out for the Wythenshawe over-35s in the Cheshire Veterans Premier Division Cup final against South Liverpool . The Vets side went viral earlier this season after boasting a squad of Premier League greats, steamrolling their rivals, and during the cup final Newcastle United cult-hero Papiss Cisse had netted a treble before it was abandoned due to Ireland's injury.

It follows on from Ireland's first post to social media since the incident. The former Aston Villa and Stoke City midfielder shared a video featuring the leg-breaking incident, which shows opposition players holding their head in their hands after the challenge.

The post continues, showing pictures of Ireland stricken on the floor receiving medical attention from paramedics, lying in a hospital bed before leaving on crutches.

There was uncertainty surrounding the initial incident, which occurred at Warrington Rylands' Gorsey Lane, before his wife revealed the extent of the injuries.

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In a post to Instagram, Ireland's wife, Jessica, posted a touching photograph holding the former Republic of Ireland international's hand as he lay in a hospital bed, while wearing his Wythenshawe shirt. She wrote "I wouldn't usually do such a personal post on here but I just felt I needed to update everyone who has been messaging and asking how Stephen is doing.

"I feel bad that haven't managed to reply to everyone yet and I didn't want anyone to think I was ignoring their kind concern.

"I have just been in hospital with Stephen since the incident happened Sunday morning and understandably just focused on getting him better. "Stephen incurred a "both-bone" break to his leg, his tibia and fibula were badly broken and therefore he needed surgery.

"He came out of surgery last night and thankfully all went well, he is now on the road to recovery.

"We Just wanted to thank everyone for the overwhelming concern and support and all the lovely messages!

"To everyone who was there when it happened and knows how traumatic it was, THANKYOU for the immediate action that was taken and for the incredible support that day He's got a tough road ahead but anyone that knows Stephen will know he'll be fighting fit as soon as physically possible."

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Wythenshawe Vets have became a global phenomenon teaming up with former colleagues and rivals to assemble a Sunday league dream team, with the likes of Cisse, Joleon Lescott, Emile Heskey, Oumar Niasse, Maynor Figueroa, Antonio Valencia and Danny Drinkwater among the big names to have turned out for the Greater Manchester outfit.

Wythenshawe's over-35s have torn their competition apart, storming to the top of the Cheshire Veterans League where they remain unbeaten after their opening 10 matches, boasting a goal difference of 77 and sitting six points ahead of Parklands (Widnes). The campaign is shaping up to be a trophy-filled one, having already lifted the Manchester FA Veterans Cup after thrashing East Manchester 9-2 in last month's final.

Earlier this month, Ireland was confirmed as one of the headline names set to board the plane, flying the flag for Wythenshawe, at the winner-takes-all $1million TST competition in North Carolina, which is due to kick off at the end of May.

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