Former Barrow AFC striker Rhys Turner has been forced to retire from playing at the age of just 24 after succumbing to a succession of hamstring injuries.

Turner had been training with the Bluebirds in an effort to regain his fitness and earn a new contract with the club after injuries restricted him to just 12 appearances, in which he scored once against Leyton Orient.

However, after suffering yet another setback whilst playing for AFC's under-21 team against Dalton United in pre-season, Turner has sadly decided to call it a day.

Manager Ian Evatt has always been a strong advocate of Turner's footballing ability, which was unfortunately only seen in short bursts during his time at Holker Street due to his struggles for fitness.

Evatt said: "He suffered another hamstring injury after that hat-trick that he scored for the under-21s and has decided to go into something else, which is sad because he's got so much ability.

"But we wish him well, we wish him all the best and good luck for the future."

Turner began his senior career with Stockport County, with his good form in National League North earning him a move to the Football League with Oldham Athletic in January 2014.

It was there where he started suffering problems with his hamstrings and after spending time on loan at York City and Macclesfield Town, he was released by the Latics in the summer of 2016 and subsequently joined Morecambe.

He finished the second of his two seasons with the Shrimps back on loan at Stockport before signing for the Bluebirds not long after Evatt took charge last year.

Evatt said: "The players will probably agree with me that he was the most talented player in our squad, but sometimes you need that bit of luck with your body and injuries and he didn't quite have that.

"It's unfortunate and it's sad, but I wish him well because I think he's a great lad and I wish him good luck with whatever he does in the future."