Sun: Martin Laursen decided to quit football after he was warned he could suffer for the rest of his life. The Aston Villa defender has called it a day after injuring a knee earlier this season. He could have had an op, which would have sidelined him for a year. But there were no guarantees he would have been able to carry on playing afterwards — and the long-term prospects were not good.

Mirror: Gareth Southgate has warned he will not tolerate rats deserting Middlesbrough's sinking ship or "getting the lifeboats ready". Boro boss Southgate believes the listing Teessiders will still have a fighting chance of cheating the drop if they beat Aston Villa at the Riverside. But he will crack down hard on players plotting an escape route before Boro's fate is settled.

Daily Express: The thought of not being able to play with his children has caused Aston Villa's Martin Laursen to quit football on medical advice. Laursen's career has been blighted by knee trouble and he was told by specialists he risked serious damage that could ruin his life if he tried to play on.

Daily Star: Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen has announced his retirement after admitting defeat in his battle to return from a knee injury. Laursen, 31, has suffered a series of injuries that have restricted the Denmark defender's appearances for Villa over the last two years and has been out of action since suffering a knee injury in January. The former AC Milan and Parma centre-back was faced with a lengthy rehabilitation period on his right knee before he would return to full fitness and has opted to retire rather than undergo another major operation.

Independent: The Aston Villa captain, Martin Laursen, has announced his retirement because of persistent injuries. The 31-year-old has endured an injury-plagued career and has been out of action since suffering a knee injury while playing for Villa in January.

Guardian: The Aston Villa central defender Martin Laursen has retired at the age of 31. The club captain has suffered from long-standing problems with his knees and has decided to hang up his boots rather than undergo further surgery.

Sky Sports: Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen has called time on his playing career due to injury. The Danish defender, who has not played since January, has announced that he will be retiring from football with immediate effect. He has been plagued by knee problems for many years and the latest setback left him facing a decision about whether to carry on.

Setanta Sports: The early retirement of Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen due to persistent knee problems is 'hard to take', according to manager Martin O'Neill.