OMAGH and Tyrone star, Conor Meyler, is facing more surgery as a season plagued by injury brings further gloom.

Meyler, an All-Ireland winner and All-Star in 2021, didn’t play a single game for the Red Hands this year due to a serious knee injury, and his hopes of salvaging something from the club season are fading.

But he has vowed to give everything in his bid to return to fitness and represent his county again.

He had knee surgery last October and is to undergo another operation in the coming weeks.

He has admitted that he is unlikely to feature for Omagh in the 2024 club championship, but hopes to be ready to return for pre-season with Tyrone towards the end of the year.

“In the long-term I know I'm going to need a knee replacement, some day, he said.

Speaking at the announcement that BPerfect Cosmetics is the official Diversity and Inclusivity Partner of the Gaelic Players Association, Meyler, said: “It's a case of how far can I push that down the road.

"But mentally and physically, I really want to keep going. I want to play until I'm 35.

“I was looking at Paul Conroy at the weekend and was thinking what he has done is incredible.

“I have more admiration for fellas who have had longevity like that and don't come away with anything at the end of it, than fellas who pick up a couple of All-Stars and an All-Ireland and retire early.

“I'm looking at Conroy going, you've had so many heartaches and setbacks and you've had big injuries but every year you keep coming back. But there is a mental toll that it takes on you.

“And I've seen the impact it has had on my personal life this year, on family, on friends, relationships, all sorts of things went out the window because your sole focus is on getting back and everything else takes a back seat and that's so hard.”

Meyler reflected on a disappointing season for Tyrone, which ended with home defeat to Roscommon in the preliminary quarter-final of the All-Ireland SFC.

He called for a serious focus from all involved to get the Red Hand county back on track following a bleak three seasons since All-Ireland triumph in 2021, with the team winning just six of its fifteen championship games in the meantime.

“The county board, the whole management and backroom team, I think just everybody, and players especially, everybody needs to take a long look at themselves and say, ‘Where are we at here?’

“Just have a proper review because the stats there, the win percentage over the last couple of years, it’s just not good enough.”