NELSON'S Carl Howarth is keen to work at a professional football club - but has given up his dream of being a player and now would love to be a physio.

The 21-year-old is going to Manchester University in September to study physiotherapy and has put his playing plans firmly behind him.

The striker had high hopes of making a career as a pro after being taken on as a trainee at Everton. But he was released and ended up playing at NWCL Division Two side Nelson last season to keep fit.

His goalscoring exploits alerted UniBond Premier side Burscough who picked him up.

But he was third choice striker behind the prolific Lee McEvilly and Lee Furlong and, when they cut the wage bill, it wasn't worth his while to make the trip over. So he dropped down a division to UniBond first division side Rossendale but things didn't work out there, either.

"I enjoyed my time there, the lads were great," said the frontman.

"I enjoyed playing in the UniBond League because you could test yourself against good players week in week out. In the NWCL, you only come up against good players every so often.

"I did get a run out in the Rossendale side but couldn't get the goals so basically, because that was my job and I wasn't scoring, that was it."

So last month, he made the move back to Nelson and hasn't looked back. He has scored seven goals in nine games and has helped to turn their season around. "John Bailey said they were struggling before I came in but I think we have only lost two recently.

"It's great because I am scoring so I am enjoying it. But I have told John that it is my last season for them as I won't be able to train and play when I am in Manchester. I might look for a club around there and play for the University.

"I think it is too late for me to be a professional now anyway. I am just not good enough so my dream now is to be a physio at a football club."

Nelson are in action at home to promotion-chasing Alsager tomorrow.

COLNE are without a game tomorrow.