A significant anniversary in my life is approaching. A week on Friday, October 15, it will be five years since I played my last game in professional football.
I was substituted in the 66th minute of a 1-1 draw for Aston Villa at home against Wolves after I'd had what could kindly be described as a 'challenging' afternoon, trying to keep Helder Costa quiet. I'd had a lot of issues with my knee all through my career but little did I know the end was coming.
By the end of play that day, Villa were 20th in the Championship.