Kyle Coney to miss early season for Tyrone after ankle surgery

Tyrone attacker Kyle Coney will miss the first few months of the season

Tyrone attacker Kyle Coney is to miss the Dr McKenna Cup campaign and the start of the National Football League.

He has gone under the knife to rectify a long-standing ankle problem, and faces three months on the sidelines.

"The rehab is a bit extensive, and it will be late February or early March before I'm back to be considered to be playing any contact sport," he said.

The former AFL recruit looks set to miss Tyrone's opening two league games, against Derry and Mayo.

However he hopes to be back for the trip to Kildare on March 2.

"I'll probably miss the first couple of rounds, but you never know, with the rehab, and all the equipment there is now, I may be back by the middle of February, but at the minute it's looking like early March," confirmed the Ardboe forward.

"I was having trouble all throughout last year, and coming up to the club championship this year, I was wearing an air-cast boot to try and keep the swelling down on the ankle.

"It has been going on this three or four years, so now seemed like the right time to get it done. We were out of the club championship early."

Tyrone will be without a number of established attackers for the McKenna Cup. Connor McAliskey has a dislocated shoulder, while Stephen O'Neill is likely to sit out the pre-season competition.

Carrickmore pair Mark Donnelly and Martin Penrose may also be given an extended break.