Kelly calls time on career

The 35-year-old suffered horrific damage to a finger on his right hand while training with the Academy players at Blackburn Rovers and has been forced to end his time as a professional. 

The custodian has had a metal pin inserted in the finger as he is unable to clench his fist because of the severity of the injury.

"The finger was dislocated and twisted and the ligaments were ruptured," explained the former Sheffield United man.

"I had to have it totally reconstructed and a three-inch metal pin inserted. Even now I can't stretch the finger or make a fist.

"When I hold my hand out straight the finger juts out at an angle. It's a permanent disablement and I was never going to be able to play football again."

Kelly has recently been on a training break with the rest of the Blackburn squad to Spain with only his team-mates and manager Graeme Souness aware he was bringing the curtain down on his career.

"It was something of a farewell trip for me," explained the former Ireland international who appeared in two World Cups.

"I've had 19 years in football and I was damn sure I was going out with a celebration rather than a wake."