Former Drogheda United player Gary O'Neill has backed Noel McGrath to win his battle against testicular cancer.

The 24-year-old Tipp ace will undergo surgery tomorrow and O'Neill, who was diagnosed with the disease in September 2013, has a fair idea of what the two-time All-Star is going through.

Thankfully, the now retired O'Neill came out the other side and returned to the soccer pitch after receiving the all clear.

"I can only speak from my own point of view, but first of all you're like 'how could this happen to me?'," he outlined to The Irish Daily Star.

"I felt fit and young and healthy and obviously someone hits you with the 'cancer' word and it was very worrying."

On a more positive note, he continued: "I had massive support from the PFAI and they looked after me.

"Then I had people like Alan Stubbs who played for Everton and Celtic, he got in touch and it was great to speak to him.

"I know people say 'stay positive', but until someone who has actually been through it can tell you what they felt and they went through ... that was great to bounce it off people like that.

"He's (McGrath) a fit guy and that will stand to him. Like myself, after a couple of weeks of speaking to doctors and once it gets explained to you, I set myself a goal to get back playing. I'm sure he'll bounce back."

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