'I wish' - Darragh Lenihan delivers candid assessment of injury-plagued Middlesbrough FC spell
Darragh Lenihan delivers candid assessment of injury-plagued Middlesbrough spell
Darragh Lenihan wishes he had been afforded “a bit more of a shot” at getting Middlesbrough promoted to the Premier League.
The 32-year-old joined Middlesbrough from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2022, penning a four-year deal after a decade of service at Ewood Park.
He watched the club transform following the arrival of Michael Carrick, and then evolve further under Rob Edwards and Kim Hellberg, but saw his involvement limited by injuries.
The centre-back managed just 55 appearances across four years at the Riverside and was released following the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign.
.jpeg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
Darragh Lenihan reflects on Middlesbrough spell
“My aim coming to Middlesbrough was to get Middlesbrough promoted and I wish I'd had a bit more of a shot at it on the pitch," he told The Northern Echo. "But fingers crossed Middlesbrough, the club and people will get to the Premier League in the near future.
"I can look myself in the mirror and think I've done everything I can. I have no regrets. I've been quite lucky before the last few years, I've played quite consistently.
"One thing, if I didn't play that Preston game and I didn't prove to myself I can do it, it might be a different mentality.”
Injury woes
The game against Preston North End - back in September - proved to be his last in Middlesbrough colours. He completed 90 minutes for the first time in two years and was named man of the match, only to then suffer a cruel setback and find himself going under the knife with another Achilles injury.
"It was a long wait for the first game back,” he said. “I didn't feel anything during the game, felt really good.
"I came in on the Monday and did a cool down second day recovery day and my other Achilles felt sore. I didn't really pay any attention to it because I thought as long as it's not the left side I couldn't really care.
"That was the Monday. I think we were off the Tuesday and then back in on the Wednesday. I trained on the Wednesday and as the session wore on I knew something was up. It was getting worse and worse.
“I said to the physio I just feel exactly the same pain as I had done on the left side. It was the hardest thing coming off that pitch thinking this is the same thing again. That was tough.”
Darragh Lenihan’s future
Lenihan, who has four Republic of Ireland caps on his CV, is now seeking pastures new as a free agent.
"I definitely feel like I've still got a lot to give," he said. "It's not like I've had the same chronic injury.
“I'm in a good place, I've been ticking over, I'm fully recovered. I'm in a good place and I feel like I have to lot to offer. Wherever that may be. Time will tell. But I'm in a good place and I'm looking forward to the next challenge.
“My attitude next season will be making the most of every training session and every game, whatever club I'm with and pushing myself every day, as I always have done."