Neil Mellor spent ten years as a professional footballer from 2002 to 2012, representing Liverpool, West Ham, Wigan, Preston and Sheffield Wednesday.

Now aged 37 and continuing his work as a Sky Sports pundit, many forget the footballing career that Mellor experienced and endured.

He burst onto the scene under Gerard Houllier at Liverpool as far back as 2002, playing alongside the likes of Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Sami Hyypia.

Mellor was expected to go on to huge things in football, but throughout his career he battled persistent injuries, so much so that he only featured 241 times in a ten year career.

His best years though came in the Football League. He showed his potential over several seasons with Preston, and had his best and most prolific season with Sheffield Wednesday in the 2010/11 campaign where he netted 20 goals in all competitions.

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Speaking to Lancashire Live about the extents he'd gone through to overcome his injuries, Mellor said:

"I have had to manage my body throughout my career. Some players are more fortunate than others. When you are out there on the pitch no-one watching has any idea if you are injured or not or what you are carrying - you are judged every time you are out there.

"For me I just wanted to do what I could, I was taking pain killing tablets and injections for most of my career. But I got to experience those highs as a professional footballer that I wouldn't have had if I just accepted the injury."

His career came to an abrupt end in 2012, aged 29. It was one last knee injury that saw him hang up his boots, bringing an end to a career that should've gone on to be so much more.

The verdict

We saw what Mellor was capable of. He had seasons where he was fully-fit and firing but those seasons were sporadic - he spent most of his career on the sidelines.

It's a cruel business and Mellor is one of many who's experienced the worst that football has to offer. But he's remained a prominent figure in football with his punditry work, and has plenty of footballing moments and memories to cherish.