Former Rovers defender Tareiq retires

FORMER Bristol Rovers defender Tareiq Holmes-Dennis has had his promising career cut short by injury aged just 24.

The talented left-back - who played 30 games for the Gas across two seasons - has been battling a knee injury since 2017, which he suffered in his only game for Portsmouth.

Holmes-Dennis says he never recovered from that injury, battling “pain and swelling almost every day” for the past three years.

“After injuring my knee at Portsmouth over three years ago, which at the time I saw as a minor setback, I was ready to attack my rehab head on and never once did it cross my mind that it would actually affect my career,” he wrote on Instagram. “The dream never changes, but the people that have followed my career and know me personally would be aware I’ve never recovered from that injury.

“Almost every day for the past three years, pain, swelling etc, but it’s never going to be public knowledge.

“Specialists told me to stop playing well over a year ago, but I didn’t care because I only had one vision and goal in mind. I didn’t believe someone could tell me to stop. Anyway, I count myself as one of the lucky ones. I managed to get to a level I can be proud of, played over 100 games from League Two to the Championship, gained promotion to the Premier League and met some of the best people and gained friends for life.” Rovers released the Charlton Athletic academy graduate at the end of his twoyear contract in June after making just four appearances last season. He scored once for the Gas, a memorable goal in a 3-1 win at Walsall on Boxing Day in 2018.

Holmes-Dennis was part of the Huddersfield Town team promoted to the Premier League in 2017, and also had spells with Oxford United, Plymouth Argyle and Oldham Athletic.

On his Pompey debut in August 2017, Holmes-Dennis slipped on the astroturf surrounding the Fratton Park pitch and damaged cartilage lining the end of his thigh bone.

The 24-year-old swiftly had surgery but the pain did not subside.