McBrearty missed most of last last season because of a hamstring season but has been one of Donegal’s most impressive campaigners so far in 2024 as they county comfortably secured a return to Division One.

The injuries to the two Kilcar men will only serve to increase McGuinness’ own misgivings about the condensed nature of the current inter-county season, with the start of the championship immediately following next weekend’s Allianz Football League finals, where Donegal will face Armagh in the Division Two decider.

“You are here tonight and it could be a hamstring injury or a calf injury and you’re thinking ‘that could be him gone [for the season]’.

“There is no time and I think that’s harsh and hard on players. The split-season for me doesn’t allow the championships to breathe.

“It doesn’t allow people in communities to have conversations about the game and then look forward to two weeks or whatever it is, three weeks to the next game and have a conversation around that.

“It’s just constant rushing and pressure and if that pressure is there on coaches and managers, players will feel that as well.”