Sheffield Wednesday's transfer-listed Irish defender David Billington has been struck down with injury again, after spending nearly all of the last 18 months on the sideline crocked.

Billington, along with fellow Irish underage international Mark McKeever, joined the then Premiership Wednesday from Peterborough in a joint £1m deal three years ago and both looked to have great futures in the game.

But since then 20-year-old Billington has failed to get a run-out with the Hillsborough club.

The player had three separate operations in the last two years but thought he had finally found fitness and was on loan with his former club Peterborough with an eye to a permanent move back.

Then 24 hours before he was scheduled to play for the Posh reserves he got a recurrence of the injury which has put his future in doubt.

Peterborough have given up interest in trying to sign him - and with his history of injuries he will do well to find another club.

It's a great pity for a promising young player.