Reading striker Roberts plans to retire

London, Feb 17 (IANS/CMC) Former Grenada striker Jason Roberts is set to announce his retirement from professional football this week.

The 36-year-old has been told to call time on his 17-year career due to a persistent hip injury. Roberts has not been able to play football for Reading FC this season. His last appearance for the club came back in December 2012 in a 0-1 defeat at Southampton.

"Jason has had a further consultation this week. Now we await a further written report which is due next week and a decision will be made on the basis of that report," Reading's club spokesman said.

Since picking up his injury, Roberts has made several unsuccessful attempts to get back playing. He was recently quoted as saying: "I've had six or seven opportunities to try and come back and not made it through two or three training sessions. I've had an operation, steroid injections, time abroad. We've done everything we possibly can. We just haven't been able to get it to a point where I'm fit enough to play yet.

"It's really frustrating. I've never really been injured before but I think when you go through something like this at my age, you start to really question how much longer you can go on."

Roberts joined Reading in January 2012 from Blackburn Rovers and went on to play a big part in firing Royals to the Premier League. He scored on his debut against Bristol City and added a further five goals as Brian McDermott's side went on a memorable run to lift the Championship.

Roberts looks back on that four-month spell as one of the most cherished periods.

"It was a fantastic time in my career. To achieve what we did and to get to the Premier League was, in my opinion, one of the biggest achievements of my career," he said.

--IANS/CMC

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