The Belfast man had been unable to train for three months due to ongoing pain and a MRI scan confirmed fears. As of now, the former Linfield goal hero’s future remains uncertain.

“I’m almost distraught, almost in tears,” said a broken Young. “It’s the worst injury I have ever had and it’s something that could potentially end my career.

“I haven’t been able to train for almost three months and now it’s now getting to the stage where I’m absolutely cracking up that I cant train. Sometimes even coming down to the gym, to call in say hi, cracks me up, seeing everyone training away and hitting the bags.

“I’ve been training and fighting for three years and have been moving through the ranks. We were looking at a major title shot in the next 18 months. Now it has just on hold and it’s very hard for me to take. I’ve always been an avid athlete, been involved with sports at the highest level for the last 15 years and the last few years is the fittest I have ever been, due to the sport of kickboxing, full time training, twice a day six times a week. For that to suddenly stop is a hammer blow.

” The stricken champ is unsure what caused the injury. He has an appointment with his specialist on August 13 (lucky for some) and it is then that he’ll discover his fate.

“It’s a terribly hard time for the lad,” said his coach Billy Murray, of the renowned ProKick gym. “He is devoted to the sport, really devoted. He trains as hard as anyone I’ve ever coached. I think he could have been a fitness coach, had he wanted. For anyone active to have to suddenly stop it’s tough.

For a young man with a good few years left in the ring, it’s a deadly blow.” He added: “We’re keeping our fingers crossed for early August and hope the news is good.”

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