Hudson pays tribute to pal and former team-mate

FORMER Huddersfield Town captain Mark Hudson has issued an emotional statement following the death of his former Cardiff City team-mate Peter Whittingham.

Whittingham (pictured) had been on life support after suffering a head injury following an incident at a Barry pub on March 7.

It’s understood he had been out to watch the England v Wales Six Nations match, near his home in Penarth.

Hudson, 37, spent more than five years with the Bluebirds, making 165 appearances at the Cardiff City Stadium before joining Town in September 2014.

Whittingham joined Cardiff for £350,000 in 2007 and established himself as a club legend with 459 appearances and 98 goals before leaving in 2017 to team up with Tony Mowbray following Blackburn Rovers’ relegation to League One in 2017.

On hearing news of his friend’s passing, Hudson tweeted: “You my friend will be received by the heavens with open arms.

“A truly wonderful player, I was lucky to have spent my time on the grass with you and part of my life enjoying your dry humour.

“You will be missed but never forgotten. My deepest sympathy to your family x Heart broken x.”

Manchester United and former Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also paid tribute.

“I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Peter Whittingham,” he said. “Peter was a fantastic footballer and an incredible human being.

“I thoroughly enjoyed working with him during my time at Cardiff City.

“It’s hard to believe that he has been taken from us at such a young age. Peter will be deeply missed and our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.”

Former United captain Ashley Young also paid tribute to the ex-Aston Villa midfielder with a message on his Twitter page.

“Saddened to hear the news about Whitts,” he wrote. “Condolences, thoughts and prayers to his family.”