Bolton midfielder Gavin McCann has said that he will be retiring from professional football after failing to recover from the injury. McCann, formerly of Everton, Sunderland and Aston Villa, will now take up a coaching role assisting the youth set up at the Bolton academy.

McCann said: “Unfortunately I’ve had to call it a day.

“There are times now when my ankle is sore and aches, and further down the line I will need another operation.”

McCann made a total of 363 appearances at club level and won one one cap for England in a friendly against Spain at Villa Park in 2001.

He last featured for Bolton in the 4-2 defeat by Arsenal at the Emirates on 20 January 2010, and underwent surgery on his injured ankle soon after.