FA Cup hero Fraser Franks opens up on retiring aged 28 just days after facing Man City

“My first thought was I need to be out of here in the morning for training but within a week I was told it was the end of my playing career.”

Three years ago, Fraser Franks was just 28 when doctors entered his room in the cardiovascular ward of a South Wales hospital and delivered the crushing verdict.

The Newport County defender had been a hero of the magical FA Cup run under Mike Flynn that concluded in defeat to then Premier League champions Manchester City.

Franks was man-of-the-match in the famous win against Leicester City at Rodney Parade two rounds earlier.

But it was just days after trudging off the pitch against Pep Guardiola 's all-stars that his life changed indelibly.

After Newport's brave 4-1 defeat to City, Franks was selected to start in the midweek fixture against Notts County, but he soon knew something wasn’t right.

“I just didn’t feel great on the way there and when I played I felt really lethargic,” he exclusively told Mirror Football.

“I didn’t feel like I could continue early on but then I scored which is a rarity for me and it gave me an adrenaline boost.

“But my legs weren’t moving at all and I couldn’t finish the game so came off with 15 minutes to go.”

Franks is seldom flustered and didn’t want to concern his pregnant wife, pop star Stacey McClean, as his heart pounded rapidly the following night.

But desperation set in as his heart raced out of control and he realised his worst fears after being rushed to hospital.

“I started sweating and shivering and then I started getting a racing heart," he said.

“It got to the point where my heartbeat was shaking the bed. It was going that fast and I said to my wife 'you’re going to have to take me to hospital here'.

“She took me in, they rushed me