Ipswich Town coach Kieron Dyer and former Newcastle United player requires liver transplant after primary sclerosing cholangitis diagnosis

Ipswich Town Under-23s manager Kieron Dyer is waiting to hear when he will need to undergo a liver transplant to treat primary sclerosing cholangitis.

The Suffolk club revealed last week that the popular Ipswich-born former England international and Newcastle United midfielder was undergoing hospital tests.

It has now been revealed the 42-year-old, who was recently forced to pull out of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins after puncturing his lung, has been suffering from the rare chronic liver disease for the past couple of years.

But Dyer, who also starred in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! In 2015 has revealed his determination to bounce back ahead of undergoing a transplant.

A statement released on Ipswich Town's website said: "The club can confirm Town U23 manager Kieron Dyer has been diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

"Kieron has been managing problems with his liver for the past couple of years, and now requires a transplant."

Dyer, who made 91 appearances for Ipswich ahead of his Premier League move, told the club website: “Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with a condition of the liver a couple of years ago, that would lead to me one day needing a transplant.

“Over the next week, test results will confirm when I need to go through this procedure.

“I see myself as a very positive person that will overcome this minor setback.

“I’m very grateful to the club, the supporters and the general public for their messages of support over the past week.

"I would like to ask everyone now to respect my privacy, and my family’s privacy.”

The club statement added: "The best wishes of everyone at Ipswich Town Football Club remain with Kieron and his family.

"We reiterate our request that everyone respects Kieron’s wishes in privacy for him and his family."

The British Liver Trust describes primary sclerosing cholangitis as an uncommon chronic liver disease in which the bile ducts inside and outside the liver progressively decrease in size due to inflammation and scarring (fibrosis). The disease may occur alone, but frequently is associated with inflammatory diseases of the colon, especially chronic ulcerative colitis.

Dyer, who was plagued by injuries later in his career, also went on to represent West Ham United, QPR and Middlesbrough before retiring in the summer of 2013.

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