Former Premier League striker Marcus Bent has come out of retirement to play for non-league side Cornard United following a tumultuous spell out of the game.

The 41-year-old striker, who plied his trade at no less than 17 clubs, including Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and Everton, has returned to football having signed for minnows Cornard of the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North.

Bent has endured his fair share of controversy since retiring from professional football in 2012. Last year, the Englishman was declared bankrupt after failing to pay HMRC a number of large tax bills.

Marcus Bent has returned to football after signing for non-league side Cornard United

The Hammersmith-born man had earned an estimated £10million during his career in football, but ran into huge debts having seen investments in a number of tax avoidance schemes fail.

It follows from an incident where Bent avoided a stint in jail after admitting to an attack on police officers in 2016.

The 41-year-old was high on cocaine when he attacked police officers, bare-chested, with a meat cleaver and kitchen knife.

The 6ft striker was stopped from doing any harm by the use of a taser. He was handed a suspended sentence for affray and possessing the Class A drug.

The 41-year-old has endured a tumultuous spell on the sidelines since retiring in 2012

Bent (centre) made 574 appearances during his 17-year career, scoring 113 goals in total

Bent landed himself in trouble once again when he was caught in possession of cocaine at Chessington World of Adventures in 2017. He was ordered to pay a £385 fine as well as costs.

The striker, who was once an exciting talent having played for the England Under 21 side, will return to football with Cornard United this season. He had been on the books at non-league side Wick for the 2017-18 season, but failed to make a single appearance.

Cornard will be hoping Bent can fire them up the table for the remainder of the season. United are sat in 12th place, 20 points behind league leaders Mulbarton Wanderers.

Bent made 574 appearances during his 17-year career, scoring 113 goals. In January 2002, he won the Premier League Player of the Month award for his performances with Ipswich Town.