Donegal football legend Michael Murphy is set to make a shock return to the county fold under Jim McGuinness for the 2025 season.
Murphy hung up his boots at the end of 2022 and had seemingly put his county career to one side with an insistence that he was not coming back as his focus switched to punditry work.
The 35-year-old is primed for a sensational comeback, however, to once again play under McGuinness after the pair combined as manager/captain to spearhead Donegal to All-Ireland glory in 2012.
McGuinness had made many unsuccessful efforts to coax Murphy back into the squad last year as his second stint commenced with Donegal and his head has now finally been turned.
Seeing how close Donegal, who lifted Ulster honours under McGuinness this year, were to reaching an All-Ireland SFC final surely helped to alter Murphy’s mind.
The Glenswilly powerhouse brings outstanding form to the county table having impressed on club duty this year with a string of inspirational displays in the Donegal SFC.
He has spent recent months working as part of Jim Gavin’s Football Review Committee (FRC) and he now looks set to have a playing role in the rules which he helped to create.
The return of the three-time All-Star will delight Donegal supporters with hopes high that a third Sam Maguire could now be heading back to the hills next year.