UCD boss Collie O'Neill issues injury update as Evan Osam starts rehab

UCD manager Collie O’Neill confirmed that defender Evan Osam is on the road to recovery after suffering a horrific achilles tendon injury a week before the season began.

The full-back suffered the freak injury in training in pre-season and was diagnosed with a ruptured achilles, which required surgery.

O’Neill revealed that Osam – the son of St Patrick’s Athletic legend and Ireland under-16s manager Paul – has begun his rehab after his protective boot was removed.

Osam is still unlikely to line out before the end of the season, but it’s good news for a UCD side who face offers for captain Gary O’Neill, defender Liam Scales and winger Neil Farrugia in the summer.

O’Neill has had to rotate his squad with Conor Davis, who just returned from a seven-week lay-off with a knee injury, replacing Yoyo Mahdy for Friday’s 2-0 defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic.

Scales suffered a knock to the head late in the defeat in Inchicore but O'Neill said he'll be fit to take his place at home to Sligo Rovers on Monday.

“Ev got his boot off so he’s back starting his rehab,” O’Neill told extratime.ie.

“We’ll see how that goes over the next few weeks. I still think he’ll be gone for the season.”

The Drogheda native confirmed that the club have received an approach from Manchester City with a view to taking Scales and Farrugia on trial.

Scales completed the final day of his degree on Friday, while O’Neill is also due to finish this summer, but the College would command a few as both players are on professional terms.