Sean Davis: Playing through the pain with Portsmouth and Spurs resulted in early retirement at Bolton

The defensive midfielder made 116 appearances for the Blues, scoring three times, before departing for Bolton on a free transfer in the summer of 2009.

However, Davis would play just seven more times during the remainder of his career.

An injury to his right knee prompted his retirement in September 2012 at the age of 33.

And the former Fratton favourite admitted the problem also blighted his three-and-a-half seasons with the Blues.

He told The News: ‘I played with a swollen knee all the time at Pompey, I would have injections to get me through. It was horrendous.

‘My knee was really bad during that last season at Fratton Park, it was hard work just to get out there. The adrenaline would push me through the game, but the next couple of days I was struggling to walk.

‘I played 40 games that year, which was testing on the knee. Then I joined Bolton and it seemed to completely go after four matches.

‘Not knowing my body well enough forced me to retire early. I just wanted to play. I didn’t manage my knee in the right way and it affected me later in my career.

‘I first got the knee injury at Spurs, that’s where I probably did the most damage. Most of my Spurs games involved having cortisone injections, with the manager telling me how he needed me to play.

‘At Pompey, some days it was hard to turn, it was painful. The warm-ups were always bad, but once the game got going you could get through it.

‘It’s always in my head that if I’d never had that injury, how far could I have gone? The injury was always at the back of my mind, it played a massive part mentally.

‘There were injections, sometimes on the day of the game, sometimes the day before, just to drain out all the fluid.

‘The cortisone injection sweeps everything under the carpet. Maybe you can use it to play in a cup final, I’d agree to that.

‘But if it’s going to affect you long term, it’s not great.’

Davis initially turned down a move to Bolton in January 2009, having been persuaded by Tony Adams to remain at Pompey.

However, with no offer of a new contract forthcoming, he was allowed to leave Fratton Park for nothing in July 2009.

Davis added: ‘I once had a little chat with Paul Hart about a new contract, but nothing was ever concrete.

‘I would have stayed at Pompey if one had been offered and was what I wanted. I was probably one of the lowest earners at the time too.

‘I don't think negotiating would have been a massive issue but, with the financial situation, the writing was on the wall for me.

‘It was a sad time, to be honest.’

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