HUDDERSFIELD Giants star Keal Carlile is to undergo heart surgery.

The young hooker has been given the shock news that injury woes are down to a heart defect.

The player will now undergo surgery, but he is confident he can resume his career as a professional rugby league player sooner rather than later.

The 21-year-old has not played since his side’s second Super League game of the season at Castleford Tigers on February 19, when he was forced off the field early in the game after suffering from serious fatigue.

It was just a week after Carlile had scored the Giants’ first Super League try of the season in his side’s 28-16 triumph over Warrington Wolves at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Initial tests were unable to solve his serious bouts of fatigue.

But the problem was finally identified by Harley Street specialists following a series of exhaustive tests, revealing he has a heart valve problem which requires surgery to enable him to return to competitive action.

The operation will take place early next week.

The Pontefract-based Carlile is expected to be in hospital for around a week and, amazingly, he has been told he could return to action before the current season ends in late September. It would signal the end of a very dark time in the player’s young life.

“It’s been a very worrying time since this extreme fatigue hit me during the Castleford game in February,” said Carlile, who made his Super League debut for Bradford Bulls at St Helens in June 2008 before moving to the Giants four months later.

“I just knew straight away that I had to come off, there was no way I could carry on.

“No-one knew what the problem was at first, but after a series of test it was finally discovered it was a problem related to a valve in my heart.

“That surprised me, because I’ve always felt really fit and healthy.

“But my specialist has said the surgery will bring me back even better, which was really good to hear. He said there could be a 25% improvement.

“I have to admit I did fear the worst when the problem was explained to me, but as I listened more to the specialist, it was clear to me that it is fairly easy to sort out and once it’s done I will be much fitter and stronger.

“I’m obviously very grateful to him and also to the club for continuing to explore every avenue until we got to the bottom of the problem.

“All I want to do now is get the procedure done and get back into training as soon as possible to get fit for the challenge ahead.”

And Huddersfield Giants officials are delighted Carlile can now take the first steps to getting his Super League career back on track.

“It’s great that we have finally got some light at the end of the tunnel for Keal,” said Giants managing director Richard Thewlis.

“There were some worrying thoughts when the extreme fatigue hit and I have to pay credit to our medical staff for the way they have worked through this with Keal.

“He’s a smashing young man with a tremendous attitude to every challenge and I’m sure he’ll recover from the operation relatively quickly and begin the rehabilitation process.

“It’s difficult for him and his medical team to set a return date for him at this stage, as while we have been trying to fully diagnose the problem he has not been training, so his base is very low and clearly the operation will reduce that even further.

“But the good news though is that he will be able to return to rugby.”