Neil Clement forced to hang up boots for good

West Bromwich Albion defender Neil Clement has made the difficult decision to retire from the game, on the advice of the medical team which have tried to nurse him through the injury which has kept him sidelined for the past 17 months. The 31 year old was a hit with Baggies fans, making a tunning comeback to first team football at the Hawthorns during their Championship winning season.

A loan move to Hull City in 2008 looked to have ended Clement's chances of re-establishing himself at West Brom.  But when he was called back to the Hawthorns because of a defensive injury crisis he played a vital role in securing Albion the Championship trophy and promotion the Premiership at the end of the 2007/08 season.

Having firmly secured his position if the Baggies first team, the defender suffered a suffered a damaging knee injury during pre season of the 2008/09 season.  He under went two major operations on his right knee, travelling to Germany to ensure the best of the best treatment.

After a series of platelet injections to the knee joint, doctors back in the UK have confimed to Clement that the injury which has already kept him sidelined for 17 months is still not fully recovered, and it was with much sadness that the player announced this morning his retirement from professional football.

Clement admits that the news from his medical team still came as a crushing blow, despite his already long absence from the game.  But Clement can retire knowing that he tried everything possible to recover his career, and that Baggies fans up and down the country are thankful to him for a long and successful 10 years at the Hawthorns.

Clement joined West Bromwich Albion in 2000 after a short loan spell, costing the club £150,000.