Cardiff City v Doncaster Rovers: McDaid eager to stake claim for new deal

Championship: DONCASTER Rovers defender Sean McDaid aims to make up for lost time after emerging from an 18-month injury nightmare.

By The Newsroom

Published 29th Jan 2010, 23:44 BST

Updated 29th Jan 2010, 23:45 BST

After three knee operations, McDaid returned to action for Rovers as a substitute in the midweek defeat against Middlesbrough.

Speaking ahead of today's trip, the former Leeds United youngster, 23, said: "It has been the worst time of my life and there were times when I wondered if I would ever get back.

"It was a massive relief to get my first appearance in the Championship under my belt and I certainly appreciated the ovation from the crowd – even though half of them probably didn't know who I was!"

McDaid is out of contract in the summer but hopes to prove his fitness and win a new deal.

Manager Sean O'Driscoll is keen to sign a new centre-back after losing Jason Shackell for the next month. Shackell, who is on loan from Wolves, has undergone a hernia operation.