Ipswich Town: Kieron Dyer on liver transplant recovery

The 44-year-old Blues academy product had the surgery after being diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a disease that attacks the bile ducts, several years ago.

Speaking with Oliver Holt of the Daily Mail, Dyer said he had written to the family of the liver donor to thank them.

He said: "The fact that someone else died so that I might live is something I still can’t process.

"I haven’t spoken about it until now because it is such an overwhelming thought. Maybe 99% of the population only gets one chance of life and I have been given two.

"The reason I have been given two chances is because someone died. To have that responsibility and burden to do that person justice is…I still can’t come to terms with it.

"There are days where I just cry. I am happy. I am not sad. It is just such a powerful thought that someone had to die."Dyer in action for Ipswich Town (Image: Newsquest)

In the interview, Dyer said he relied on the love of his wife, Holly, and his family as he awaited for his chance to have a transplant.

He said his recovery is going well and he is reducing his daily intake of pills, even being allowed to drive again.

Dyer, who played more than 100 games for Ipswich, told the Daily Mail he was overwhelmed with the support he had received from the football community after his transplant – including a surprise from Town's arch-rivals Norwich City.

He said: "When I was in hospital, waiting for the transplant, I was at my lowest. I was a nightmare to deal with. I was dying so you can imagine how moody and erratic I was and not once did my family take it personally.

"All they showed was love, love, love.

"The outpouring of love from family and friends and the football world was so powerful. I’m an Ipswich boy and our biggest rivals are Norwich. I don’t really like Norwich.

"When I woke up from my surgery, there was a hamper from Norwich City saying 'get well soon' from the football club. I thought that was absolutely class."