HEART AND SOUL THE MARK O BRIEN STORY

MATHEW MANN TALKS TO THE FORMER NEWPORT COUNTY DEFENDER ABOUT HIS INCREDIBLE ROLLERCOASTER RIDE

- MATHEW MANN

MARK O'Brien had the world at his feet. The Irish defender became one of the youngest players to represent Derby County, making his debut aged 16 in a Championship match against Watford in May 2009.

When he returned to Pride Park ahead of the 2009-10 season, he had reason to be optimistic. But a routine check during pre-season identified a serious problem with his heart. It was one that would have life-changing consequences.

"We wore heart rate monitors during training," O'Brien says. "During pre-season, my heart rate was a little higher than the others, which I thought was a reflection of the effort I'd been putting in.

"The physios hadn't encountered readings that high, and they were concerned, so they sent me to Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, for some tests.

"The specialists discovered that, due to a faulty valve, my heart was three times as big as it should have been and working twice as hard. The message was stark: I needed an operation, or I'd die!"

The defender's promising career looked to be over before it had really got started. "You'll be lucky to play football with your mates again, let alone professionally," doctors told him.

But O'Brien, supported by Rams boss Nigel Clough, incredibly defied the odds, returning to first team action in October 2010. He went on to make 35 appearances for Derby and had spells with Motherwell (loan), Luton Town and Southport (loan) before he joined Newport County in January 2017. Newport was to become his spiritual home.

"I knew nothing about the club when I signed - I remember asking someone which part of England Newport was in!" laughs O'Brien. "I had no idea that I was heading to South Wales.

"When I arrived, I knew straight away that it was going to be a challenge as we were rock bottom of League Two."