Matty Fryatt confirms retirement after Walsall stint

The 31-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at the Banks's Stadium, has been battling an Achilles injury for the past three years.

Fryatt's last professional appearances came back on March 3 for Nottingham Forest.

But he began training with Walsall back in October – with boss Jon Whitney hopeful he could help the striker make a playing comeback. Now though, after another set-back, Fryatt has opted to call time on his career.

"The only option is to call it a day," he said.

"This is a big moment for me, but at the same time it’s been a long time coming.

"I haven’t played for nearly three years now so it was only natural.

"I’ve given it everything, from when it all started and thinking it was going to be a minor injury to three years later and realising the only option is to call it a day.

"It would have been so much easier to just run out onto the grass, feel comfortable and play a game of football, rather than go all over the world to see a surgeon in Germany, in Holland, in Portugal and getting absolutely nowhere.

"When you’ve had half of your Achilles taken off, re-attached, bone smashed up and then put back on with someone saying you’ve got a good chance of coming back, it’s hard to take. This is closure, really.

"I was coming back in off the training pitch nearly crying, hobbling around in absolute agony. It was embarrassing. I was near enough in tears trying to run.

"In the last game I played I was just like a statue. I was in real pain as well, it was ridiculous.”