Football legend George Best has been readmitted to hospital with an infection, following his life-saving liver transplant.

The former Manchester United star is being treated for a complication, a spokesman for the Cromwell Hospital in west London said.

Best, who needed the operation following years of heavy drinking, is expected to stay in the hospital for a number of days.

He was given a new liver during a 10-hour operation on 29 July and haemorrhaged so badly that he needed 40 pints of blood to survive.

Intensive care

A spokesman for the Cromwell Hospital said: "George Best was re-admitted with a complication related to a local infection which is now under control and his condition is improving.

Best hopes to have children with his wife, Alex

"He was admitted over the weekend and will remain in hospital for several more days."

Best, 56, was kept in intensive care after the liver transplant and was later moved to a specialist ward.

He had been waiting about eight months for a new liver and was warned that he would die if he ever drank again.

Children

Although Best received thousands of messages of support some people questioned whether he deserved the transplant.

Hitting back the former Northern Ireland international said he knew he would never drink again.

He added: "I would never say to anybody you don't deserve to live, no matter who they are.

"As for calling this self-inflicted, I didn't decide one day that I would drink myself to death. It is as a result of alcoholism."

Best spoke of his gratitude to the anonymous donor and said he hoped to have children with his wife, Alex, in the near future.