GRIMSBY goalkeeper James McKeown says he’s finally over the fatigue after-effects of pre-season meningitis – but he’ll never get tired of big FA Cup ties!
The Mariners’ number one was struck down by the viral illness in July and spent just under a week in hospital.
McKeown is honest enough to admit his form was “awful” at the start of the season, but a third consecutive clean sheet in Monday’s second round draw with Shrewsbury shows he’s well on the road to a full recovery.
The 26-year-old told The NLP: “My partner Chloe was off work ill and I went home from training feeling unwell. She wanted to ring an ambulance but I told her not to be daft and I was going upstairs to sleep it off.
“I just collapsed on the stairs though and she took matters into her own hands.
“I just remember this paramedic with massive tattooed arms coming into the bedroom as I lay rolled up on the bed in a ball. I thought ‘God, there better be something seriously wrong with me after she’s made this fuss!’”
There was, and McKeown was admitted to the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, but was back between the posts for the opening day against Kidderminster.
“I didn’t start the season well at all,” he said. “I was making mistakes but I don’t put it down to the illness. They told me I’d feel tired and I did for ages, but I think it was just coincidence that my form dipped. I’m feeling right back on it now.”
He’ll need to be on Tuesday night as the National League high-flyers bid to make the third round for the second time in three seasons, with a trip to Championship side Cardiff the prize.
McKeown wants his team-mates to take inspiration from the 2013-14 campaign when, after a home draw with Scunthorpe in the first round, they went to their local League Two rivals and won the replay before beating Northampton in round two.
Huddersfield knocked them out that year, but the ex-Peterborough and Boston man adds: “I thought we were outstanding on Monday and underlined why some bookies had us down as favourites.
“We’ve got a track record in the cups and although Shrewsbury will understandably be expected to beat us at their place, we don’t fear them.
“They might think they’ve done their bit in getting us back there, so we’ve got to take advantage of any potential complacency – just as we did at Scunthorpe.”
