FOOTBALLER OF THE Year Karl Lacey is set to miss the start of Donegal’s league campaign as he recovers from hip surgery.
The Four Masters clubman had an operation on Saturday and is expected to be out of action for 12-14 weeks.
Lacey missed last night’s RTÉ Sports Awards, where the All-Ireland champions were named Team of the Year, topping the public vote on a shortlist which also included the Irish Paralympians and the Olympic Boxing Team.
Manager Jim McGuinness said that Lacey is recovering well but a three-month timeframe would likely rule the centre-back out until the end of March and the final rounds of Division 1 fixtures.
Donegal kick-off their league season against Kildare on 2 February, the first part of a “Spring Series” double-header in Croke Park which also features Dublin against Cork.
