CROCK STAR; EXCLUSIVE: Brian rushed to hospital for 5hr op on horror leg injury after soccer tackle.

Byline: By PAUL MARTIN

BRIAN McFadden was in hospital last night after suffering a horrific leg injury during a soccer match.

The star collapsed on the pitch after damaging his right leg in a tackle. Doctors operated on him for five hours yesterday - but warned it will be months before he will walk properly again.

A pal of the 25 year old said: "His leg swelled to twice its normal size - it looked awful. He was

taken to an emergency room and X-rays showed severe damage to the muscles and tendons in his right thigh."

The former Westlife singer had been playing for his team - FC Killester - in Dublin when he was injured.

His leg is in plaster and he will need crutches to walk until he recovers from surgery.

Brian's daughters Lilly Sue, two, and three-year-old Molly are flying over from England to be with him.

His girlfriend Delta Goodrem has been in constant contact with the star and his family from the US where she is promoting a single.

Brian had planned to pick up his girls from estranged wife Kerry after a concert in England last night.

But instead they will spend the next week with him as he recovers at his mum's Dublin home.

The pal added: "Brian won't be able to go anywhere or do anything for at least a month - and even that is optimistic."

CAPTION(S):

HURT: Brian