Former Sheffield United striker Ched Evans has confirmed that he wants to return to football after being released from prison.

The 25-year-old left jail last week after serving half of his five-year sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman in a hotel back in May 2011.

Evans has been linked with a return to Sheffield United, but almost 150,000 people have signed a petition calling for the club not to sign him.

The Welshman, who continues to protest his innocence, now hopes to be back playing football in the near future.

"I would like a second chance but know not everyone agrees," he said in a video statement on his official website. "I don't believe I have a given right to play again, but for any club to take me on, I've learned a valuable lesson. I know that, over time, I can prove myself to be a positive influence not just on the pitch, but in the community."

Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough recently claimed that the club has not yet decided whether to bring Evans back.