Colchester United midfielder Andy Arnott has announced he has given up all hope of playing league football again.

The 27-year-old U's man officially announced his retirement from the game today (Thursday) after admitting defeat in his agonising battle to shrug off a recurring groin injury.

And so a career that started so promisingly with a £100,000 transfer bid which could have taken him from Gillingham to current Premiership champions Manchester United as a talented 17-year-old striker, has finally petered out in pain and frustration.

The final straw came a week ago when Arnott collapsed while stretching for the ball near the end of the U's reserve team game at Peterborough in the latest of a number of attempts at making a comeback.

He said: "I knew at the time this game was make-or-break for me and I came within a few minutes of getting right through it.

"But as I lay by the touchline being treated by our physio Brian Owen I said: 'that's it BO, I can't stand it any longer.'

Arnott enjoyed only two first team starts this season as he battled to regain full fitness from the groin injury first suffered when he caught his studs in the ground making a tackle in the 1-1 draw at Bristol City within weeks of his signing for the U's.

He said: "Right now it's very hard for me to take in the fact I was invited to play in the same Manchester United youth side ten years ago with David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and many other of today's big names.

Colchester United midfielder Andy Arnott - injury forces his retirement

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