Former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore is keen to make a playing comeback early next year.
Collymore was one of the most talented strikers of his generation and was tipped for international honours but a series of off-field problems culminated in him retiring from the game at the age of 30 after a move to Spanish side Oviedo went wrong.
He will be free to play professionally again in January 2004 when a FIFA ban imposed on him for retiring while under contract is lifted and he insists a number of clubs are interested in giving him another chance.
Collymore told BBCSport Online: "The fact that clubs have shown an interest has whetted my appetite. "When I said I was retiring that was the intention, but with the caveat that if somewhere in the future an opportunity came along, I would consider it.
"But it would have to be the right offer for both parties. It's not a question of finance or money, but purely for football reasons. I have missed the playing side. Football has been part of my life since I was eight years old.
"But one of the reasons I have been happy to stay out as long as I have is the peripheral side, the demands on players from outside football and the scrutiny they come under.
"I miss the playing side, but I don't miss all the other stuff."
Collymore began his professional career with Crystal Palace but failed to make the breakthrough at Selhurst Park. He shone under Barry Fry at Southend and earned a six-figure move to Nottingham Forest and his goals helped restore them to the top flight.
He joined Liverpool for stg£8.5million in July 1995 but joined Villa for £7million two years later to be nearer to his West Midlands roots. The move turned sour for Collymore, who needed treatment for depression and he joined Leicester on a free transfer.
The move initially bore fruit for club and player but more off-field problems saw him move to Bradford before joining Oviedo.