Troy Deeney is set for a surprise career change having entered a national pool competition.

The striker, who spent more than five seasons playing in the Premier League with Watford, will be a wildcard at the the UK Open Pool Championship in May.

The competition will welcome the most talented players from all over Britain to Telford between May 7 to 12, an event which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Deeney said: “I am absolutely buzzing to play at the UK Open Pool Championship.

"I always fancied myself on the table at the training ground with the
boys so when this opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance to put myself to the test against some of the world's top players and can't wait to compete on 7th May."

Deeney came on talkSPORT on Tuesday to speak about his career change, speaking on the Hawksbee & Jacobs Show: "I enjoy playing it. I think if you grew up in a British culture as much as I have in terms of pubs and playing pool you'd like to think you're decent, a good game of killer never goes amiss in any boozer, does it.

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"I've had some fun with it but generally, working with Matchroom, it is great to be involved in trying to see how other athletes work because obviously football is a team sport.

"I've always been someone who admires people in solo sports so trying my hand at it.

"If it works, great. If it doesn't, great, because I've learnt something so going to try have a bit of fun with it."

The UK Open Pool Championship use nine-ball rules, which does not need the black ball being potted to end the match, with Deeney adding: "The beauty of nine-ball is you could play and get all eight in and miss the last shot then I come in and tap the ninth one in and I've won and that is kind of the strategy.

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