Blues legend Paul Mariner says he’s “fighting” and has “incredible people looking after [him]” having undergone serious surgery.
Mariner’s Town strike partner Alan Brazil revealed on talkSPORT late last week that the 67-year-old had had a major operation, understood to have been to remove a brain tumour.
The England frontman (pictured above with team-mate Terry Butcher on his most recent visit to Portman Road in December last year), widely viewed as the greatest in the Blues' history, subsequently received messages of support from fans of all his clubs, Chorley, Plymouth, Town, Arsenal and Portsmouth, on social media and responded to one from the Talking Town podcast earlier this morning.
Mariner, who now is understood to be back at home, scored 135 goals in 339 appearances for the Blues between 1976 and 1984 and was a member of the team which won the FA Cup in 1978 and the side which carried off the UEFA Cup in 1981.
For England the Bolton-born striker netted 13 goals in 35 matches and appeared at the 1982 World Cup finals and 1980 European Championships.