FOOTBALL legend Kevin Beattie was said to be in a comfortable condition last night after undergoing tests at Ipswich Hospital.The former Ipswich Town and England defender was admitted earlier in the day after he was taken ill at home in the Chantry area of town.

FOOTBALL legend Kevin Beattie was said to be in a comfortable condition last night after undergoing tests at Ipswich Hospital.

The former Ipswich Town and England defender was admitted earlier in the day after he was taken ill at home in the Chantry area of town.

His wife, Margaret had feared a return of pancreatitis – the illness that nearly killed him 12 years ago.

Beattie, who has been voted the club's greatest-ever player in a series of supporters' polls, was said to be "quite bright" and in a comfortable condition.

Ipswich Hospital spokeswoman Jan Rowsell revealed the 49-year-old was undergoing investigative tests.

In 1991, doctors were unsure whether Beattie would survive following surgery for pancreatitis. His wife and family, and former team-mates kept an anxious vigil by his bedside. Beattie stunned doctors with his recovery.

He shed more than three stones as a result of his illness and vowed to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

But he is now back in hospital after developing severe stomach pains yesterday.

Mrs Beattie said: "He knew what it was. It was the same as he went through in 1991."

The Beatties contacted an emergency doctor in the early hours of morning.

Mr Beattie was given a painkilling injection at home but the doctor later told the couple it would be better for him to go to hospital. An ambulance arrived at around 8.30am.

Mrs Beattie added: "The doctor made all the arrangements and although Kevin was in a lot of pain he walked down the stairs and out to the ambulance.

"My daughter, Louise, went with him in the ambulance and her sister Emma has joined her at the hospital.

"He has had blood tests but at the moment I don't know the results. But the symptoms were definitely similar to when he had pancreatitis."

Beattie, who was born in Carlisle, came to Ipswich aged 16 and made his first team debut at Old Trafford against Manchester United, two years later.

He won England youth and under-23 honours and collected nine senior caps, before his career was brought to a premature end in 1982 after a series of knee operations.

He made a total of 307 appearances for the club and scored 32 goals. An FA Cup winner in 1978, he missed the UEFA Cup Final three years later with a broken arm and never played for Ipswich again.

Beattie, who has three daughters and five grandchildren, then played for Colchester United and Middlesbrough, for a short time.

In recent years he has contributed to local radio and newspapers and has also joined the coaching staff at his hometown club of Carlisle on a part-time basis.

He was on the bench at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday as Carlisle were beaten 2-0 by Bristol City in the LDV Vans Trophy Final.