YORK teenager Ryan Carmody is getting ready to kickstart his football career - two years after being told he would never play again.

The 19-year-old striker, who ripped a cartilage in his knee while playing for Lincoln City youth team in early 1998, will undergo a third and final operation of pioneering surgery next week.

And if successful - the London specialist behind the operations believes he has a 70 per cent chance of a full recovery - he is confident of finding himself a professional club.

"I've got the operation on the 14th just to clean the knee up and have a look," said Carmody, who has even been sent a letter of encouragement by the great Johan Cruyff after the Dutchman heard of his plight.

"I've done a gym instructors' course as something to fall back on if I don't make it, but I'm confident of getting fully fit again.

"I've been told I'm naturally fit and I've kept myself in shape."

As regards his future, he said: "It will be a case of having to approach clubs asking for a trial, but I'm hopeful of getting something.

"I would prefer to stay in England, though I am prepared to go abroad.

"It's a slower game on the continent with less contact which might be easier on my knee."

Scunthorpe-born Carmody, whose parents moved to the Cross Keys pub in Stillingfleet two years ago, had been hit by the injury just months after signing YTS forms with Lincoln, aged 16.

"It actually happened as I scored a goal against Leicester in the January, though it was thought then that I'd only be out for just four weeks," he said.

He had two operations before April but broke down in his first match back and that summer went to see a specialist in Leicester.

He told him the injury - similar to the one which ended York City's John Sharples' career - was so bad that he wouldn't play again.

Not the best of 18th birthday presents.

"I wanted a second opinion, though, and London specialist Angus Strover told me there was a chance I could recover using this kind of surgery," he added.

Carmody had the additional problem of leg-length difference, so had 3cm lopped off his left femur to cure that and reduce the strain on the troublesome left knee.

Eighteen months later, after finding a donor, he had a cartilage transplant.

Although he suffered further when his leg haemorrhaged, the operation so far seems to have been successful.

All this surgery, totalling £20,000, was paid for by the PFA, as Lincoln had refused to fork out for what was an unproven method.

The Sincil Bank club also suspended his YTS contract.

"I've not had contact with Lincoln since. The only person there who was good to me was physio Keith Oakes. I doubt I'll go back," said Carmody.

"The PFA have been great, though, and I'm just hoping now to get back on track."

Picture - LONG ROAD BACK: Lincoln City footballer Ryan Carmody, of Stillingfleet, shows operation scars on his left leg

Picture: Mike Tipping