Ex-Sunderland and Middlesbrough striker defies retirement advice after horrific injury as comeback begins
The former Sunderland striker is fighting back after a horrific injury – despite being told to retire
Former Sunderland and Middlesbrough striker Charlie Wyke says he is determined to pull on a Carlisle United shirt again as he continues a long and gruelling comeback from a devastating leg injury.
Wyke has been out of action since October 2024 after suffering a serious leg break, which also dislocated his ankle and caused significant ligament damage. The 32-year-old, who scored 42 goals in all competitions for Sunderland and was central to the club’s 2020–21 campaign, revealed that a surgeon even advised him to retire.
But Wyke refused to accept that his career was over and has now begun light training as he works towards a possible return for Carlisle later this season. “Over the last few weeks, it's just starting to get a bit better, so I'm back on the grass, which is great for me,” he told BBC Radio Cumbria. “It's nice to be outside.
“I'm at the point now, or I was a few weeks ago, where if I played one more game, that would be enough. There's still a long way to go with the extent of the injury and how bad it was. But I'm a bit more positive than I was last week, so things are looking up.”
This is not the first major setback Wyke has had to overcome. In November 2021, during his time at Wigan Athletic, he collapsed in training and suffered a cardiac arrest. It took him nine months to play competitively again. His latest absence has already stretched beyond a year, involving several operations and metalwork inserted to stabilise his leg.”
The psychological toll has been equally severe. “It's been horrendous,” he said. “I've spoken to professionals about it. I've had a lot of help off the pitch, mentally. I don't think anyone will ever realise how bad it is until they're in this situation. For me, I just want to get back playing football, so I'll do whatever it takes.”
Despite being told that retirement was the sensible option, Wyke said he could not bring himself to walk away. “I took my family up with me to see the surgeon, and the physio was on the Zoom call,” he explained. “It actually took me by surprise because he sees these injuries every day. I know it was a horror injury, I didn't really expect him to say that if it was him, he'd retire. That shows how bad it was.”
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The former Middlesbrough man added: “But I'm not the sort of person to give in. Obviously, with the stuff that's happened over the years with the cardiac arrest, I've worked so hard to get back. Then this, out for another year, it's been hard, but I'm not ready to give in yet.”
Wyke, who enjoyed the best season of his career at Sunderland in 2020–21 – scoring 31 goals in all competitions, earning a place in the League One Team of the Season and being named the club’s Player of the Year – is desperate to help Carlisle push for promotion under Mark Hughes. “That is the plan, to get back for Carlisle,” he added. “The last few games, 10, 20 games. But if someone said to me, you could play the last game of the season, I would do it.”