Twenty-one-year-old Jamie Shore had cartilage tissue from a dead donor implanted into his right knee at Droitwich Knee Clinic in Worcestershire on Tuesday.

He is the first professional sportsperson in England to have the operation which, if successful, could have big implications for other similarly affected footballers and athletes.

Knee injuries are one of the most common causes of footballers having to retire early.

Celia Anderson, managing director of the Droitwich Knee Clinic, said: "Careers can be shortened quite drastically by knee injuries.

"Jamie is a young chap and, without the operation, he would not be able to continue playing."

Physiotherapy

Ms Anderson said the operation - known as an allograft - had been a success and Mr Shore was making a good recovery.

The midfield player should be able to go home by Friday.

It will be a year before he will be able to resume professional football, if all goes well.

He will have an arthroscopy using keyhole surgery in about three months time to check on his progress.

Jamie Shore plays for Bristol Rovers

He will also have to undergo an intensive physiotherapy programme.

The operation has been carried out in Europe for the past 10 years, but a recent breakthrough in the way tissue is stored has improved its success.

"Other sportspeople are holding fire to see how successful this operation is to see whether it will take off," said Ms Anderson.

The private Droitwich Knee Clinic has developed an international reputation for knee operations and receives patients from around the world.

It was set up in 1988 by surgeon Mr Angus Strover, who performed Mr Shore's operation.

Knee injuries are on the increase in the UK, especially among women.