OGBENE HAS NO REGRETS OVER ACHILLES KO.. IT ALLOWED HIM TO FOCUS ON FAMILY

IF Chiedozie Ogbene could turn the clock back a year, you might think he would airbrush his Achilles injury from history.

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

But you would be wrong.

In fact, the fit-again Ireland star insists he would go through all that suffering again if it meant reliving the year he has just had away from football.

It's a curious take, and one that initially raises eyebrows when you listen to the Cork man explain how anger quickly dissipated for an entirely fresh perspective on life.

Ogbene could easily have descended into a rage when he ruptured his Achilles playing for Ipswich Town against Brentford last October.

He was only back in the Premier League, with a new club, having been part of Luton Town's chastening topflight experience before that.

But his Tractor Boys adventure lasted just five games, as he required surgery that ruled him out for the rest of the Premier League season.

Most footballers would feel sorry for themselves in that grim scenario and start climbing the walls, frustrated and isolated from the usual helter skelter.

Yet for Ogbene, he insists the year out was the most rewarding of his life after becoming a father and working as a disability officer.

And Ogbene feels the latter has helped strengthen the bond he has with his sister Chibuzo, who has Down syndrome.

Ahead of Ireland's opening World Cup qualifier against Hungary tomorrow, Ogbene said: "I'll be honest with you, I was very emotional for the first two or three weeks.