TOMMY CONWAY experienced the darkest fortnight of his career when two of his biggest footballing dreams were ripped away in a single afternoon.
The Middlesbrough star limped off during the play-off semi-final against Southampton, knowing his ankle was in a bad way.
Sitting in a consultant’s office alongside his mum, Conway received the devastating news that he required immediate surgery.
That operation killed any chance of featuring for Scotland at the World Cup, despite being promised a spot in Steve Clarke’s squad.
To make matters worse, as he came out of surgery, Boro learned they were heading for Wembley
The 24-year-old watched in agony as unable to help his team-mates.
Conway said: “That was the toughest thing I’ve ever had to overcome in my career mentally.
“I knew I was missing the World Cup — but to then find out we were back in the final at Wembley and had to watched on helplessly was awful.
“Things happen in life and you have got to accept it, move on and bounce back.
“I’ve told myself there is another World Cup in four years and I’m going to do all I can to be there.”
Conway spent four months trapped in a grueling cycle of physical rehabilitation and mental frustration.
He added: “As a footballer, the worst thing in the world is being injured.
“The worst day of the week is Saturday at three o’clock when the team is going out and you’re on the sideline watching.
“Going through four months of pain mentally and physically, the day you step foot back on the pitch makes everything worth it.
“One of the best moments in a Boro shirt was coming back and the reception I got as I came on against West Brom at the Riverside. It was special.”
Now fully fit, Conway is channeling every ounce of that summer pain into firing Boro into the Premier League.
Kim Hellberg’s men host Charlton this weekend sitting top of the Championship.
And Conway has formed an instant bond with Teesside’s working-class faithful .
He said: “I feel like ever since I have come here, I’ve really taken to the area.
“I can see myself within people in this area. They’re hard-working, working class, which is where I come from.
“I can really vibe off everyone up here and it reminds me of how I grew up almost.
“They’re so passionate supporting the team. The way they travel in their numbers home and away is special.
“All I want to do when I step foot on the pitch is to give back to them.”
Conway’s game has soared under Hellberg, who made the bold decision to shift the forward to the left wing.
The switch has given him the freedom to terrorise full-backs in one-on-one battles.
Conway said: “Until Kim came in, I would have always said I was a striker.
“It was almost like he saw something in me playing off the left. It was a natural transition.
“Ever since I’ve gone out there, I’ve grown in confidence.
“The freedom to get at players 1v1 and really back my ability, he is the first coach who has really given me that confidence.
“When I go onto a pitch now, I’m the most confident I’ve ever been.”
Conway also credits former for filling his tactical locker with tips picked up from Manchester United’s glory years.
He revealed: “Some of the things I learned off Michael I probably never would have learned anywhere else from him playing at such a high level.
“The little details that he used to give me I still live by every day.
“He always used to speak to me about how Wayne Rooney used to finish — little things like shooting through defenders’ legs.
“Passing on bits from players he played with was valuable information.”
His mentality was forged as a teenager.
Conway said: “When I first went to Yate, I was 17. You are a young lad going into a dressing room of 30-year-olds.
“You show what you’re about in training and they soon realise you’re a good player.
“I remember going to the gym at half 10 at night after training at Bath, just to do something extra.
“All the lads walked past thinking, ‘Wow, he’s 18 years old and he’s in the gym doing this.’
“I was up against big centre-halves, so I had to learn quickly. I wasn’t the strongest, so had to be smarter.”
During his early days at Bristol City, Conway shared a house with best mate Alex Scott, now starring for Bournemouth.
The pair spent weekends glued to the television, plotting their rise to the top of English football.
Conway said: “Alex is my best mate in football. We lived together and I saw his rise as much as he saw mine.
“Me and Al always used to watch football. Super Sunday would be on and we’d say we want to play in the Premier League one day.
“He’s there now and I’m working away trying to get myself there. Hopefully soon enough I’ll be there with him.”
Conway is convinced that achieving promotion with Boro would top anything he could ever accomplish in the game.
He added: “I think about getting there with this club every day.
“I don’t think there’s a player here that doesn’t want to achieve that.
“It would give everyone such a boost. I pride myself on it and I almost want to take responsibility and make sure it does happen.”
