Snooker news - John Higgins considering retirement: I'm nearing the end of my time with this game.

Speaking to Eurosport after a crushing 6-5 defeat to Alan McManus in the second round of the UK Championship, a brutally honest Higgins, 43, explained he was disappointed with his form.

"When you watch guys like Neil Robertson on the next table, knocking centuries, and I'm doing thirty... I'm just garbage," Higgins said.

He went on to say that recent success covered up a lack of interest in the game, admitting "I know I said it here last year, maybe I was papering over the cracks, getting to the final of the World [Championship].

"But I really do feel I'm nearing the end of my time with this game."

And he claimed he would think about retirement at the end of the season.

He revealed: "I will have a good think at the end of this season. Because I'm not going to put myself through this, the way I'm feeling.

"Not putting any effort into the game, and you know you're not going to get anywhere in the game, doing that.

"It's going to be a big six months."

Higgins has won four world titles and three UK Championships during one of the great snooker careers.

But the Scot has been struggling with his game of late - and looked out of sorts on Saturday when going to the wrong table for the start of his match.