Unemployed former Premier League star plays match for League Two club after being handed career lifeline

A FORMER Premier League stalwart who is now unemployed has been offered a career lifeline in League Two.

Not many will have paid too much attention to the Cheshire Senior Cup showdown between Stockport County and Tranmere Rovers this week.

But for one ex-Sheffield United, Aston Villa and Burnley ace it was a hugely important night.

The 34-year-old Matt Lowton was released by Burnley during the summer after eight years at Turf Moor.

Following his arrival from Villa in 2015, he became a key man under Sean Dyche and helped them to the Championship title in his first season there.

The right-back went on to make 203 appearances for the club and scored three times but last term he began to fall out of favour after Vincent Kompany took charge.

He moved to Huddersfield Town on loan in January as Kompany led Burnley to the title and back to the Premier League.

Then Lowton, who helped the Terriers beat relegation, began pre-season on trial at Birmingham.

However, Brum boss John Eustace opted against offering the veteran a contract, leaving him jobless going into the campaign.

Despite the transfer window now being closed, free agents are able to sign for a new club outside of it.

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And it has now emerged that he has been offered an opportunity elsewhere in the Football League.

Lowton is currently on trial with League Two outfit Stockport as he looks to earn himself a contract.

And that led to him being handed a start for them on Tuesday in their 2-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers in the Cheshire Senior Cup.