Crouch planning brain scan after dementia documentary

Former England captain Shearer was widely praised after investigating the links between heading a ball, dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Shearer told the BBC he never felt heading a football could be dangerous for him and called for money to be spent researching links between that and knock-on effects.

It is a view Crouch, 36, has adopted since seeing Shearer's work.

"I had to watch. How could I avoid it? I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about the effect that heading a ball might have later in life," the 6ft 7in Stoke striker wrote in the Daily Mail

"During a Premier League match, there will be days when I make 20 headers. I think there is more to my game but I understand my height is a weapon - 52 of my 106 top-flight goals have been scored with my head.

"The thing you don't realise is every time you head the ball your brain shakes. Every single time. Have you ever headed a ball badly and see stars for a couple of seconds? That's your brain shaking. Let's be honest, that can't be healthy, can it?"

Crouch now plans to have a scan to check out his own condition.

"I always believed the problem was for a different generation. I've seen the tragic stories about Jeff Astle and Nobby Stiles and I put it down to the old balls they played with," added the former Liverpool, Tottenham and England striker.

"Watching the documentary made me certain that I will have a scan for CTE at some point to see if all those aerial battles have made a mark. The damage is also known as boxer's brain.

"Whether it is the PFA or the FA, they need to do more and lead the way. They can't say they haven't had people coming to them or warning them. We have to find out whether there is a link."