FULHAM PLAYER NEEDS A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

FULHAM midfielder Kevin Mcdonald hopes to have a kidney transplant next month after revealing he has been battling chronic kidney disease throughout his whole career. Mcdonald last played for Fulham in July and will face a three-month recovery period after the procedure before an assessment on whether he can continue his career or is forced to retire. The 32-year-old turned down opportunities to go out on loan this season to prioritise his health, and has been preparing for life after football by taking his badges and coaching Fulham’s Under 18s and 23s. Mcdonald, who will receive a new kidney from either one of his best friends or his brother, said: ‘We are talking about life-threatening diseases and illnesses. Football has been great but there are certain things that need to take over that, and this is one of them. ‘I’m at stage-five kidney failure now so I need this transplant — that’s it. I need it or I go on dialysis and I’m there four times a week until I get a kidney transplant so that’s the end goal, regardless of whether it’s now, six months or a year’s time. ‘Certain things have got to be done and this (a transplant) is one for me. I want to get it over with, make sure everything is right and get back again.’ Mcdonald’s contract expires at the end of the season and he says it is ‘most likely’ he has played his last game for Fulham, who he has helped to promotion to the Premier league twice. He added: ‘I’m not going to play until I’m 38. My body won’t allow that, no chance, but I can play until I’m 35 no problem. ‘I’m not going to go and play in the Premier league now, it’s too fast for me — probably always has been actually! But I know where I’m at in my career and if it comes to that and I want to go down the coaching role and there’s something here at Fulham, that would give me a decision to make.’