An emotional, yet resilient, Jamie Carragher shared a deeply personal story about his son’s struggle with knee injuries and the impact it had on their family.

The Liverpool icon, known for his unwavering dedication and durability throughout his illustrious 17-year career, found himself in unfamiliar territory when his son, James, faced a series of debilitating knee injuries that threatened his budding football career.

Carragher, who rarely suffered injuries himself, admitted that he used to question the severity of his teammates’ ailments, believing they lacked toughness. However, his perspective changed drastically when his son encountered a similar challenge.

James Carragher, a Wigan Athletic player, has endured multiple knee injuries.

Speaking to Peter Schmeichel and Ian Wright on The Overlap, Carragher revealed the emotional toll of watching his son’s struggles during the Covid pandemic, describing it as a ‘dark place’.

‘A year ago, I was in a dark place due to my son’s injuries. I rarely got injured, and my mindset regarding injuries was that I’d go into the treatment room and see people lying there, thinking they were exaggerating or not tough enough,’ Carragher confessed.

He continued, ‘I couldn’t comprehend why people got injured. I broke my leg, but it was due to someone else’s action. Other than that, I played through hamstring and calf issues. That was my upbringing, and I’d dismiss others with that mindset. But then my son went through something similar.’

Carragher detailed the challenges James faced during the pandemic, including a knee injury that swelled up repeatedly, preventing him from accessing hospitals, physios, or surgery.

The situation took a mental toll on both father and son, with Carragher sharing his fears about James’ future in football and his own efforts to keep his son’s spirits up.

Carragher disclosed that he immediately returned from holiday upon learning about James’ second injury.

James’ loan to Oldham in September 2022 was cut short after only five appearances due to another knee injury. Carragher shared that he immediately returned from holiday upon hearing the news, knowing the mental toll it would take on his son.

‘He’d been playing through the pain with anti-inflammatories. Then he went to Oldham, and his knee gave way. I could see the worry on his face,’ Carragher said.

He continued, ‘After the operation, I thought he’d be back on track. I went on holiday, but as soon as I got his call, I knew something was wrong. I booked a flight home that night, cutting my holiday short. I knew he couldn’t be alone after what we’d been through the previous summer.’

Carragher shared that he made plans with his son to keep him motivated and engaged.

Carragher also shared that he made a list of activities he and his son could do together, including starting a podcast and watching the best football games worldwide, to keep James motivated and engaged.

He described the situation as one of the darkest moments of his life, filled with emotion and uncertainty about his son’s future.

James Carragher impressed during his loan spell at Inverness, making 20 appearances.

Fortunately, James’ loan spell at Inverness in early 2024 proved to be a turning point. He made 20 appearances across all competitions, indicating that he had moved on from his knee injuries.

As James enters the final year of his contract at the DW Stadium, he will aim to build on this momentum and stay injury-free, with the support and love of his father by his side.