‘I couldn’t run, I couldn’t walk’ – Ryan Alebiosu opens up on two-year knee injury nightmare

Super Eagles defender Ryan Alebiosu has revealed how an unexplained knee problem threatened his football ambitions as a teenager, leaving him unable to run or walk properly and forcing him to spend almost two years away from the game.

The Blackburn Rovers right-back described the period as “kind of depressing”, recalling how doctors struggled to determine the cause of the pain in both knees when he was around 15 years old.

Alebiosu, now 24, faced an uncertain future as his peers continued developing their careers while he waited for answers about his condition and whether he would require surgery.

“They didn’t know what was going on. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t walk,” he told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“Obviously, it was kind of depressing having about two years of not playing football because of this knee injury.

“This was when I was about 15 and went on for a couple of years. I couldn’t play.”

Doctors struggled to diagnose knee problem

The former Arsenal youngster said medical professionals could not establish what was causing the discomfort, describing his condition as non-specific knee pain.

The uncertainty made the experience particularly difficult for a young player determined to build a career in professional football.

“They didn’t know what was going on. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t walk; they didn’t know if I needed surgery or anything with it because I had pain in both of my knees and they didn’t know what was causing it.

“It was non-specific knee pain.”

With no clear diagnosis or immediate solution, Alebiosu could only hope the problem would eventually disappear without requiring an operation.

“I was always hoping for the best, to be honest,” he said.

“They didn’t know if I needed the surgery or anything, but at that point I was just hoping that it was nothing more (serious) and that it would just settle.

“It was frustrating because I was a kid and everyone was progressing and I’m just waiting to see when this is gonna go.”

Recovery paved way for Blackburn breakthrough

Alebiosu gradually recovered as he grew older, with his condition improving around the age of 18 as he progressed through his developmental years.

His return to fitness allowed him to resume the pursuit of a professional career, although he still had to work his way through several clubs before finding stability.

After coming through Arsenal’s system, the defender had spells at Crewe Alexandra, Kilmarnock, Kortrijk and St Mirren before joining Blackburn Rovers in 2025.

His arrival in Lancashire marked a significant turning point, with Tony Mowbray playing a key role in bringing him to the club.

Alebiosu has since established himself as an important option on the right flank, operating as both a right-back and right wing-back. He has made 50 appearances for Blackburn since joining the Championship club.

His progress also earned him international recognition, with the defender making his debut for Nigeria’s Super Eagles during his first season in the Championship.

Regular football helping Nigerian improve

Alebiosu believes consistent playing time has been crucial to his development, allowing him to improve his performances and become more established at club level.

“Playing week in week out, establishing myself a bit, I feel like there’s been a lot of improvement in my game,” he said.

However, the physical demands of regular Championship football have also made recovery an important part of his routine.

The defender highlighted the benefits of taking time off to manage the strain on his body, particularly given the running required in his position.

“With all the running I do, taking that time off to rest certain parts of my body, certain things that I have been going through body-wise, it’s been brilliant,” Ryan Alebiosu concluded.