Former Republic of Ireland defender Sean St Ledger has signed a short-term deal with his hometown club Solihill Murs in the fifth tier of English football.

St Ledger has signed a deal that will keep him at the club until January as he looks to get his career back on track following a lengthy absence from professional football.

The 32-year-old has been without a club since leaving MLS side Colorado Rapids in December 2016 having struggled with persistent knee injuries for the past number of years.

“I’ve not played a lot of football recently so it will be good for me to get some game time, but I want to help try and get the team up the table – that’s the main aim,” St Ledger told the club's official website.

“I hope my experience will help. We need to win games and start winning them quickly. We all want to try and keep Solihull in the National League. We don’t want to drop down.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge. The games are going to benefit me and hopefully I can help Solihull get back up the table.”

St Ledger previously revealed he would be open to an approach from League of Ireland clubs and was approached by Sligo Rovers when Dave Robertson was in charge of the Bit o' Red.

He was ultimately unable to take up the offer as he had just begun his rehabilitation and was some way short of fitness.

He began his career with Peterborough United before making the move to Preston North End in 2006, with whom he spent five seasons.

A move to Leicester City then materialised, and he spent three injury-interrupted years there before signing for Ipswich Town in 2014.

2015 saw him take up a contract in MLS alongside Kaka at new franchise Orlando City, and he subsequently moved to Colorado Rapids, where he hooked up with Kevin Doyle.

St Ledger made his debut for Ireland in 2009 and made 37 appearances over four years and scored three times, including Ireland's only goal at Euro 2012, in the 3-1 defeat to Croatia.