MARCUS Maddison says he could quit football after struggling to find happiness in the game.

The Charlton Athletic midfielder cut short his loan with Wanderers after two-and-a-half months after a heart-to-heart talk with manager, Ian Evatt, on Sunday.

Maddison has struggled to settle since leaving Peterborough United in October 2020, having spells with Hull City, Charlton and finally being loaned to the Whites in February.

In a post on his official Instagram account, the 27-year-old wished Bolton success and thanked Evatt for his efforts but said he would return home to consider his future in the game.

“Well the football industry has eventually broke me,” he wrote. “All the abuse, pressures and monotony of the last two years has just got to me.

“I’ve tried to fit in and be happy but if I can’t be happy In a winning team fighting for promotion it’s clearly something deeper.

“I’m returning home to think do I want to play football any more as it just doesn’t bring me any joy at all.

“I can’t thank Ian Evatt enough for understanding and wish @officialbwfc all the best for the final run in.”

Maddison had been living at the Bolton Whites Hotel during lockdown and it is understood that he had felt separated from his young daughter, which had affected his mental well-being.

“Myself, Marcus and his agent had a really long talk on Sunday about everything,” Evatt told The Bolton News. “I also had another chat with the PFA to make sure we could get Marcus the best help and support.

“Football takes a back seat in all this. People need to respect his privacy and wish him well, so hopefully he can get himself back in the right place.”

Maddison made 10 appearances for Bolton after signing on loan from Charlton on transfer deadline day. His start against Harrogate was only his fourth for the club, however, and in recent weeks there had been great debate among Wanderers fans about the role the playmaker could have in the season run-in.

Evatt said that on a day-to-day basis, however, signs that the player was feeling low were plain to see.

“It is not difficult to tell, being honest,” he said. “And if you spoke to Marcus he would say we have supported him all the way through.

“We tried to give him game time, for instance a start on Saturday, to try and rekindle the fire and happiness and obviously it didn’t work out. In many ways it made it worse and magnified things.

“First and foremost, we’re human and it isn’t just about football, it’s about people’s lives and their feelings. Marcus has had my full support on his mental well-being and he will continue to have my full support, along with Sharon and everyone else’s at this football club.”

Maddison will not be eligible to play for Charlton on his return and is out of contract in the summer.

Sources in South London claim Wanderers will continue to pay the agreed amount of wages despite his loan spell drawing to a premature conclusion.