Stoke City defender Andy Wilkinson has revealed that he is struggling with his vision after a blow to the head last season.
Th 31-year-old suffered the injury in Stoke's 4-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, and it has had a negative affect on his sight.
Wilkinson was released by the Potters at the end of the last campaign, but they have since offered him a new short-term contract to help him get back to full fitness.
He told The Times: "The blow to the head damaged the part of my brain that deals with sight. It affects my peripheral vision and it gets worse when I train, when I get my heart rate up. Everything is blurred. I am affected by vertigo too.
"I have seen specialists and they have said the only thing that will heal it is time. We are hoping it all returns to normal, but it is a frustrating, anxious wait, and that's all I can do. Wait.
"Fortunately, Stoke have been incredibly good to me. At the end of July, they offered me a six-month contract. It is not the wage I would have been able to earn if if I had been playing - here or elsewhere, but it was an extremely kind gesture. They are allowing me to use their gym as I do my rehab, as I try to keep my fitness up."
Wilkinson came through the club's academy and has made almost 200 appearances.
Charlie Bennett
