A BANKIE football player is going in for emergency surgery Friday afternoon in a bid to save his career after being left in the lurch for more than a week by a dispute with his insurance firm.

Daniel Mackinnon injured his knee on July 11 while on holiday in Spain and an MRI scan last night confirmed a ruptured ligament, slight fractures to his femur and tibia and cartilage damage.

The 24-year-old, who just signed for Yoker Athletic after two years with Clydebank FC, is facing two months of daily rehabilitation in Spain after his doctor there said he was unfit to fly.

But his family said insurance firm Axa pulled out of his £15 million emergency cover after insisting Daniel go to the airport in Madrid on Wednesday and fly home.

Axa Insurance insist Daniel is still covered and claimed they were unaware of the emergency surgery until the Post made contact. They said they are investigating.

Meanwhile Daniel's exasperated family has launched a crowdfunding page to raise £6,000 to cover the surgery and rehab for fear the insurance won't cover the bill. More than £1,700 has already been pledged.

Mum Josephine told the Post: "They did the MRI on Wednesday night and because it was so bad, they gave him the results then and there. He saw the doctor this morning and needs emergency surgery.

"A doctor in Scotland said if he had flown, he might never play football again.

"I was quite upset when Daniel told me it was more serious than I thought."

Daniel, who is studying sports coaching for a future in teaching, travelled to Madrid on June 30 to stay with family friends before the injury during a casual seven-a-side with friends.

He was assessed by a specialist who previously worked for Atlético Madrid FC who found blood in the knee.

Wheelchair-bound Daniel went to the airport Wednesday but because he didn't have a "fit to fly" certificate he returned to his accommodation. There had been confused messages with insurers over who was responsible for obtaining the certificate.

The 6ft2ins footie player, who stays with his family in Crookston, was to fly back initially on Friday. The family said that flight will be refunded, as will will journey for Wednesday which were for three seats because of his injury.

Josephine added: "It's disrupted our whole life and I don't know how Daniel has coped. He said there was no way he wanted to go on that flight.

"He has probably been better than us.

"The one thing that matters to Daniel is football and he has the best opportunity with the doctor there. I think it would have been worse coming back."

Sister Claire is travelling to Spain Friday to be with her brother.