UXBRIDGE new boy Kieran Knight figured he had finished with football until a call out of the blue from his old boss changed everything.

The 32-year-old former Hayes, Hampton and Wealdstone striker appeared to have hung up his boots for the last time after quitting Burnham just a few games into last season.

However, Tony Choules took a punt on calling his front-man from their days together at Hayes Town a decade ago.

And it seems the Reds’ boss’ silver tongue has sweet-talked Knight into rediscovering his love of the game.

Knight said: “I stopped playing last year and even when I went back for a few training sessions at Burnham towards the end of the season my reaction was ‘I don’t miss the game and I don’t want to come back’.

“Then Choulesy called me in the summer and I was more than happy to come down. It makes a difference having a few of the lads around I already knew like Kevin Warner, Wayne Carter and boys like that, but Choulsey was the biggest reason why I came back as I enjoyed working with him all those years ago.

“I usually hate pre-season, but I’ve really enjoyed it down here.”

Knight knows that goals aside, Choules wants him involved in guiding a predominantly young side – a role he is happy to pitch in with on one condition.

“There is some mentoring which I am more than happy to do. I suppose the theory is when I can’t run I can still talk.

“The youngsters can do my running – I’ve already told them I don’t do channels.

“If they had been able to watch me back in the day they would know I did not run channels then either.”

Meanwhile, Uxbridge continued their fine pre-season form with a 4-1 win over Staines Town on Monday night following a 3-1 victory at Chipstead on Saturday.