Former Ipswich and Sunderland forward Marcus Stewart diagnosed with MND

Stewart has been diagnosed aged 49

Marcus Stewart, the former Sunderland and Ipswich Town forward, has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease aged 49.

Stewart was diagnosed after undergoing tests for 12 months. A joint statement from the Professional Footballers' Association and Yeovil Town, where he is currently head of player development, has confirmed the news.

"I would like to take the opportunity to thank those closest to me for their unwavering support since my recent diagnosis," Stewart said in the statement.

"As I take the time to adjust, my intention is to continue to enjoy my work in football and spend time with my family.

"In the future, I would like to use my platform within football to help raise awareness around MND, but in the short-term, I would like to ask for privacy on behalf of myself and my family."

https://twitter.com/YTFC/status/1567875533194633216 Stewart scored over 250 goals over the course of his playing career, which lasted over 20 years. He represented Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich, Sunderland, Bristol City, Yeovil Town and Exeter City. Since retiring over a decade ago, he has held coaching positions at Bristol Rovers and Walsall before joining Yeovil earlier this year. MND is a life-shortening, degenerative condition which affects the brain and nervous system for which there is no known cure. For more information about MND, please visit the website of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, which can be reached here.