"It's like PTSD": Former Sheffield Wednesday man to sue Championship club for ending career

The striker retired prematurely at the age of 31 in 2018 with chronic achilles tendonitis and alleges that it was Forest’s mismanagement of his injuries during a three-year stint at the City Ground that brought his career to a close.

Fryatt spent time on loan at Wednesday from Hull in 2013, scoring four goals in seven appearances including a double in a home win against Reading.

But it was his transfer to Forest he says was the catalyst for his problems, claiming the club had him play through injuries. Forest have denied the claims.

Now 34, former England youth international Fryatt opened up to PA on how his retirement has affected him: “I keep running through the events and keep thinking how it could be different.

“It’s like PTSD. Even talking about it I can feel myself getting sweaty.

“I’ve been a nightmare, I’m lucky my wife and family are supportive but I’ve been so difficult. Without their support I don’t know where I would be.

“I was 28 when this happened and my children won’t be able to see me play. When they watch the clips it’s raw and it feels unjust I can’t do it any more.”

Fryatt played only 25 times for Forest and was released in 2017 having not played in over two years. He had suffered issues with his achilles before, during his time with Hull, but alleges it was Forest that damaged it beyond repair.

“It feels like my career has been taken away from me, stolen,” he said.

“There was no care. You were an object. I was put under pressure to play and forcing me to play caused the damage which ended my career.

“I feel sick with it all, frustrated, sadness. I’ve felt alone, abandoned and let down. It hurts. How was I left in this situation?

“It’s something which shouldn’t go on and I wouldn’t want it to happen to anyone else.

“Forest’s lack of understanding and their ignorance to it is so hard to take.

“They don’t want to take responsibility and for it to be dismissed the whole time, it’s like they weren’t listening to what I was saying. I find it appalling.

“It was like, ‘take the pills, get through it and you’ll be fine’. I was taking pills in the warm-up, before the game, half-time. I wasn’t thinking about football, just ‘when will it be over?’

“They didn’t listen to the injury or treat it as serious. I was telling them how much pain I was in.”

A Forest statement said: “The club can confirm that it is defending proceedings which have been commenced by a former player Matthew Fryatt.

“The claim relates to medical treatment received by Mr Fryatt prior to the current ownership of the club commencing.

“As is normal the claim is being handled by the club’s insurers and the club will be making no further comment on the proceedings.”