FORMER footballer Chris Casper, who is suing a fellow professional over a tackle which he claimed ended his career, will go to court next month.

Burnley-born Chris, who starred in the same Manchester United youth team as David Beckham and Paul Scholes, suffered multiple leg injuries while playing for Reading against Cardiff on Boxing Day, 1999.

Chris, son of former Clarets manager and striker Frank, suffered a broken fibula, tibia and cruciate and ankle ligament damage.

The 27-year-old defender has undergone a series of operations and doctors have inserted five metal screws into his left leg.

The former St Theodore's pupil is now bringing a private action against former Cardiff midfield player Richard Carpenter for loss of earnings. He will appear at Manchester's High Court for a hearing on June 30.

Carpenter now plays for Brighton and Hove Albion, who were relegated from the Nationwide First Division last season.

Chris said: "The tackle ended my career. As a footballer you never give up hope, but when it happened I knew straight away the difficulties I would face.

"There was a lot of force in the tackle and I feared the worst."

Chris, who now lives on the outskirts of Bristol and is eligible for a pension from the Professional Footballers' Association, was part of a famous Manchester United youth team of the early 1990s. He played for the Red Devils' alongside Beckham, Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville, but was never able to break through to join the first team regulars.

He transferred to Reading in 1998 for £300,000 and became a fans' favourite, playing at centre half, sweeper and full back.

He added: "I made a promising start, but I've not played since. I'm still taking each day at a time."

Chris and his wife, Karen, have a 15-month-old daughter, Grace. "It's not the start I would have wanted to married life, but Karen has been very supportive."

Chris was also given advice by his father, whose career was brought to a premature end after a similar tackle.

Neither Brighton and Hove Albion nor Richard Carpenter have commented on the impending action.

A spokesman for the PFA, the players' union, said it would have no involvement in the case because both as players are members of their organisation.