Nick Anderton is back in football following his cancer fight - with his former Carlisle United boss.

The ex-Blues captain, who retired last year, has joined Chris Beech's backroom staff at National League club AFC Fylde.

Anderton, 27, has taken the role of assistant first team coach until the end of the season.

It sees him reunited with his manager at Carlisle from 2020 to 2021.

And the role seals Anderton's return to the professional game months after his illness led him to end his playing days prematurely.

The former defender, who is now cancer free after undergoing treatment for the bone cancer osteosarcoma, will inspire Fylde's players, said Beech.

“Nick has been through a tough time over the last few years, and for us to provide him with the chance to stay in the sport he loves is one that we’re proud and privileged to be able to do," said the Fylde head coach.

"His experience, together with the depth of his personal qualities and resolve, shown during his time a professional footballer are an inspiration to those around him and I’m certain that he’ll bring a unique professional skillset and ‘player-relatability’ to our backroom staff at the football club," added Beech, speaking on the Fylde website.

Former Barrow, Accrington Stanley and Blackpool player Anderton's appointment was made alongside that of Conrad Prendergast to a senior first-team coaching position at Fylde, who are 22nd in non-league's top tier.

Beech has been in permanent charge there since December, having stepped up as caretaker following the sacking of another former United man, Adam Murray. Beech was previously brought in as director of football at Fylde.

Anderton, during a visit to Brunton Park in November to watch his former clubs United and Bristol Rovers meet in League One, told the News & Star he was hoping to return to football in some capacity.

He said he was taking his coaching qualifications and, after his illness, had regained the "buzz" to return to the game.