Football Ankle Injury - How do I end my injury nightmare?

[physiobob]

Should I take a break from football and focus on getting my excess weight off through cardio at the gym?

You've answered it in one. Not only did you suffer a good ankle injury which might put most out of football all together you need to consider that you have a year or more of general deconditioning. You are also a year older. This takes a long time to get the weight off, the diet back on track, the body used to running in football boots and on hard turf etc etc. Sounds like a lot of your issues are relates to to much to soon. Rest in itself is never a solution to groin pain, shin splints etc. The physio you work with should sit down and work out with you a training regimen to get you moving on a progressive overload pathway back to fitness. Otherwise you'll keep chasing your tail.