SCOTT Thomas had a bright future ahead of him when he made the breakthrough into the Premiership at 20 years old. But he tells Neil Bonnar how a succession of injuries changed the course of his life

Little Lever professional footballer Scott Thomas had a glittering career ahead of him with Premiership side Manchester City.

A dazzlingly skilful winger, spoken of in the same breath as City legend Georgi Kinkladze by former Maine Road manager Alan Ball, he literally had the world at his feet.

But after seven years and one cruel injury setback after another his dreams of football fame and fortune are history as he learns the harsh realities of earning a living the hard way.

The 27-year-old faced looking for another job when the owner of the Bradley Fold health club he worked at decided to close it down and get out.

Scott, who has lived at Wilkinson Avenue, Little Lever, all his life apart from a spell in a big new house at nearby Claydon Drive during his City career, struck a deal with the boss and is working round the clock to build up the business.

He said: "I came through the ranks at City playing with future Premiership stars like Garry Flitcroft and Steve Lomas, who is now captain at West Ham. We were always playing against United who had David Beckham, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Robbie Savage, Keith Gillespie and Ben Thornley in their team.

"I made my debut in the Premiership at Nottingham Forest at 20 and was a regular in City's first team squad. It was all going so well until I broke my leg and that was the beginning of the end."

Scott, who went to St Theresa's Primary School in Little Lever and Mount St Josephs School, was voted City's young player of the season at the same time as fans' favourite Uwe Rosler won the player of the year award.

But fate decided that that would be as good as it got and after five years of injuries, operations and pins in his leg he was forced to retire.

Now, while the players he grew up alongside are earning millions of pounds and living a life of luxury he has goals of a business kind in mind. He is determined to build up the Phoenix Gym on Bradley Fold Trading Estate, a job where the weekly working hours would frighten the life out of most professional footballers.

He explained: "When I was at City I worked three hours a day, 15 hours a week. Now I work 12 hours a day, seven days a week. It's a different world but I'm enjoying it."

He has ploughed much of the money he earned as a professional footballer into the business but as he recalls: "Being a professional footballer is the best thing you can do.

"I miss it but I don't spend time thinking about what I missed.

"I find it hard to watch football now. I had to watch the World Cup in the office at the gym on my own.

"Although I can't play professionally anymore I still play non-league and I've just played my third game for Ramsbottom United."

It's a far cry from Maine Road where he was given his first professional contract by Peter Reid. Brian Horton gave him his two Premiership outings before Alan Ball took over and made him a constant fixture in the first team squad, although he would not play Thomas in the same team as Kinkladze who was in mercurial form at that time.

"Alan Ball said I was too similar to Kinkladze and couldn't play the two of us so, although I was in the squad all season and had played in every pre-season game, I never got a game that season," he added.

At the end of that season Ball sent Thomas to American league side Richmond Kickers of Virginia to keep up his match fitness up and it was there that he broke his leg.

"It was broken in four places, all clean breaks," said Scott. "I had an operation in the States and had a big metal pin put inside the leg."

For the next five years he fought to overcome the injury under a succession of City managers including Steve Coppell, Phil Neal, Frank Clark and Joe Royle. He was given a one-year extension to his contract every July for five years until Royle decided his time was up.

Thomas explained: "He sent me to Brighton on loan for the last eight games of the season. Brian Horton was in charge of Brighton and he had given me my City debut all those years ago.

"Someone decided I was dragging my leg while I was playing for Brighton and Joe Royle said that was it for me at City.

"I had the pin taken out of my leg and didn't play for six months then Colin Todd gave me a trial at Bolton Wanderers. I played two reserve games but, to be honest, my game just wasn't there and I went back to the States playing for Palm Beach Pumas in the 'A' League which is the American Second Division.

"I was there for two seasons but I came back a couple of years ago because Bury said they fancied having a look at me.

"I knew Steve Redmond from my time at City and he invited me down to Gigg Lane. I was feeling good from playing well in the States but it all went wrong when I tore my cartilage after just 15 minutes of my first pre-season game.

"I decided there and then that that was the end and, looking back, I've got to say that the Professional Footballers Association was fantastic with me. People say Gordon Taylor is paid too much money but I won't have a word said against them.

"They paid for my operation and really helped me out throughout everything.

"When I look at how well the players I grew up with at City and United have done it frustrates me but I'm certainly not bitter."