Ex-Stoke star Wilkinson forced to retire

Former Stoke City defender Andy Wilkinson has been forced to retire more than a year after being hit in the head by the ball during an FA Cup tie.

He has not played since and recently saw a specialist in Canada, but has reluctantly accepted that his career is over.

Wilkinson, 31, was struck at close range after coming on as a halftime substitute in a cup tie at Blackburn Rovers in February last year.

"Over a year on from the injury, there's still a lot going on," he told Sky.

He said that he was affected by vertigo and blurred vision whenever he trained.

His contract with Stoke ended in the close season after he made almost 200 appearances for the club.