Michael Meehan's inter-county future with Galway has been thrown into doubt by a long-standing ankle injury.
The 27-year-old has been struggling with cartilage problems in his ankles for the last number of seasons and there appears to be no end in sight with further surgery ruled out.
Managing the injury is paramount for the forward but new Galway manager Alan Mulholland does not know if the former All-Ireland U21 winner will be able to join the football panel this year.
Indeed, Mulholland admits there is every chance Meehan could struggle to play in 2012 or 2013.
"There’s no better chance of him playing in 2013 than there is in 2012," revealed Mulholland.
"He’s got an injury that is what it is at the moment now. Further surgery has been analysed in the US and in England but further surgery isn’t going to help him. It’s a management thing. It’s a cartilage issue in his ankle. It’s a degenerative thing that can’t be replaced.
"He’s in a Paul McGrath type situation where he has to manage his injury though maybe a comparison with Paul McGrath isn’t quite fair. Basically he trains whenever his body allows him to train. So whether he can get sharp and fit with that type of regime we don’t know."
Mulholland will be hoping Meehan will be able to return to action at some stage in the future because he remains in the dark of Padraic Joyce's plans.
"He has to figure out whether he wants to put in the effort that is required these days. For him to keep up with a 22-year-old it is going to take maybe more effort than a 22-year-old would have to put in. He’s been away for a couple of weeks now so we’re going to have a chat to see if he wants to put in that effort," Mulholland is quoted as saying in the Irish Examiner.
"There will be no ultimatums at all. If he wants to perform to the best of his capability then he probably should be playing in the league."