Ireland defender John Egan says he is in a good place as he returns from injury

John Egan says he is refocusing after a long-term injury lay-off as his contract with Sheffield United comes to an end.

Egan has been sidelined since October with a serious Achilles injury. He missed most of Sheffield United’s season which saw them relegated from the Premier League.

The Irish defender said there is currently “no update” on his future with the club.

The centre-back admitted it was difficult to watch from the sidelines as the club endured a difficult season.

However, he says he is in a good place now and is looking forward to pre-season despite questions over his future.

“It was very hard. The worst thing about professional sports is injury, especially a long-term one.

“It was hard to accept at first, but once you have the road to rehab and the road to recovery in front of you, you just have to trust the process and give your body time to heal and do what is asked of you. you and I feel like I’ve done that.

“When you’re out for a long time mentally, you have to be strong.

“I could draw on experience from when I was 20 and I broke my leg, so I’ve been down this road before.

“My role off the court this year was big because I tried to be a positive influence around the place and see a different side of the game when you’re in the gym for so long.

“I’m in a good place now, my body feels good and I’m looking forward to pre-season.”

Since Egan last played for Ireland, speculation has grown over who will be the next permanent manager following the departure of Stephen Kenny in November.

Although John O’Shea has taken charge of the last two international camps, it remains unclear what the future may hold.

The Sheffield United captain says that while he was impressed by Ireland under O’Shea, he tried not to think too much about the situation.

“I think they did well. John did very well in this situation. All the feedback we got was good.

“When John O’Shea walks into a room, he commands instant respect for the career he’s had. I have worked with John as a coach before.

“He has a wealth of experience and you can tell the latter enjoys playing for him.”

Competition at centre-back has increased in Ireland in recent months, with Liam Scales and Jake O’Brien impressing for Celtic and Lyon respectively.

Along with Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea and Andrew Omobamidele, the battle for the centre-back role is competitive, with Egan hoping to return to the squad for September’s Nations League fixtures.

Egan says the competition is good for the team and can be seen in all positions on the field.

“I think there’s always been good competition, especially at centre-back, since I’ve been in the Ireland team.

“There’s competition all over the pitch now. We’ve got a lot of good players and that’s the key to improving as a team, making sure there’s competition for places everywhere.

“Personally, I’ve had a long-term injury and I’m really looking forward to getting back on the pitch.”