Former club captain Tom Cleverley has retired from football at the age of 33.

The midfielder has had a dreadful run of injuries which limited him to just four appearances last season, his final outing for the club coming as a substitute in the home game with Blackburn in February.

The former England and Manchester United midfielder had played the first three games of the campaign but was then sidelined by an ankle injury which eventually required surgery.

He was due to start in the away game at Burnley on February 14, but sustained a thigh injury in the warm-up and that ended his season.

He made 181 appearances for the Hornets, including a loan spell in the 2009/10 season, and then again in 2017 after which he signed permanently.

Cleverley scored a total of 19 goals for Watford, the last of them being the only goal in a 1-0 victory over eventual Championship winners Burnley at Vicarage Road in August.

Although he has now stopped playing, the club has said they will be announcing some “exciting news” soon in conjunction with the player.

It is understood that Cleverley will be staying at Vicarage Road, most likely as a coach within the Academy.

In a post on Instagram, Cleverley said: "The last year has been immensely difficult trying to overcome the obstacles of injury.

"Unfortunately my body has failed me and just hasn't got the capacity to perform anymore.

"To all those involved with Watford Football Club. I have the privilege of calling this club home.

"To captain this club has been an honour and the staff, players and fans will forever be in my heart.

"The love you have shown me as a young loanee up to the moment I retire as a grown man I can never repay."

Watford Chairman and CEO Scott Duxbury paid tribute to Cleverley.

“No one could have worked harder than Tom did to make it back from several injuries, which he’s tried to do while always providing a positive force around the players," he said.

“I can’t speak highly enough about Tom as a person, a player and our captain. Tom is the type of professional all clubs would be delighted to have in their team.

“The year’s loan at the club before he joined again in January 2017 really helped him settle quickly into being a senior player with us, and his experience has proved invaluable over these past six years.”