Search

show me:

Sydney defender's COVID drama almost over

3 minute read

After a positive test to COVID-19 last month, Sydney FC defender Ryan McGowan is itching to have his life return to normal ahead of the new A-League season.

RYAN MCGOWAN of Sydney FC.
RYAN MCGOWAN of Sydney FC. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Sydney FC defender Ryan McGowan is as eager as any A-League player to simply get back to the business of playing football.

McGowan, Scottish wife Steph and baby daughter Millie are all set to leave hotel quarantine on Saturday after a dramatic month during which all three tested positive for COVID-19.

The trio was in Scotland when McGowan underwent a mandatory test ahead of a scheduled flight to Qatar to link up with the Sky Blues for their Asian Champions League campaign.

Instead of taking part in that tournament however, McGowan tested positive and spent the next two weeks stranded in Edinburgh.

Thankfully Millie didn't show any symptoms and after a couple of days of illness both McGowan and Steph recovered.

The drama capped a big year for McGowan which involved the A-League's COVID-related suspension in March, Millie's birth in Scotland and then McGowan returning alone to Australia in July to complete Sydney's 2019-20 campaign.

After another tumultuous few weeks, McGowan says he's looking forward to life settling down ahead of the 2020-21 season kicking off at the end of the month.

"All the family's good. Fully recovered from the positive tests when we're away and just looking forward to getting back to normality tomorrow afternoon," McGowan told AAP.

"Just the timing of it. If it was a couple of weeks earlier we could've served our two-week quarantine and been able to get on the flight but with it being the 14 days isolation period it really made sure that we've missed the whole ACL which was disappointing because I'd been training pretty well."

McGowan has at least been able to train with his teammates, who are also in quarantine following their arrival from Qatar, and is confident he'll be ready to go when the Sky Blues begin their title defence on December 30 in a grand final rematch against Melbourne City.

"I'm feeling good, training hard and just under two weeks until the first game, so there's a lot of training sessions to be had between now and then. I'm fully confident that I should be ready come December 30th."

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au