Tottenham left-back Danny Rose opens up about injury nightmare as he reveals he used a psychologist to deal with mental strain of being sidelined

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Danny Rose has revealed he is seeing a psychologist to cope with the mental scars of his nine-month injury lay-off.

The Tottenham left-back is back in the England squad after finally recovering from a knee injury that was originally due to keep him out for a few weeks.

And the defender has admitted he nearly hit rock-bottom during his time away from playing.

Danny Rose (right) played his first full match since January against Crystal Palace on Sunday

The defender was sidelined with injury but did not anticipate being out for nine months

‘I have been through a whole load of emotions over the past nine months, not just the season,’ said Rose.

‘I have started seeing a psychologist to try and help me think positive. Whenever I have the time to go and see them.

‘I think I have seen them now about four or five times and they have been a massive help for me.

‘I have started reading books to try and help keep me positive as well.

‘You know, this injury has been one of the most difficult periods of my life.

‘Last season I was doing well, I felt untouchable, I felt like I was one of the best.

The left back suggested that the injury had been 'one of the most difficult periods' of his life

Rose said that the injury had humbled him and provided him with a reality check

‘I felt that if I carried on with that form, anything could have happened.

‘Then the injury happened. It humbled me, it brought me back down to earth, it gave me a reality check.

‘It just made me realise that football can be taken away from you at any given point.

‘It happened in a freak accident and it was very hard to deal with, especially at the time I thought I’d only be out for a couple of weeks.

‘But the weeks turned to months and I really didn’t see myself playing again anytime soon and it was really difficult.’ Rose is set to make his long-awaited return to international football in the forthcoming friendlies against Germany and Brazil.

But the full-back says there was a time when he lost his motivation to return from the treatment table.

The 27-year-old Rose admitted that he lost his appetite for wanting to get back fit

Rose said: ‘It was probably only two months ago that I was doing some rehab here (at St George’s Park) and I lost my appetite for wanting to get back fit because I didn’t think it was ever going to happen.

‘But seeing Tottenham play against Dortmund at Wembley and seeing them win, and having the whole Real Madrid trip to look forward to, it brought my appetite and hunger back for football.

‘Even the England trips, missing out on them was hard to take as well. So, yes, I feel as if I’m in a good place now and I can’t wait to get going again.’

Meanwhile, club team-mate Kieran Trippier has revealed he reduced his parents - particularly his father Chris - to tears after making his England debut against France in June.

Kieran Trippier has revealed he reduced his parents to tears after making his England debut

‘During the 2010 World Cup, my dad had a big flag in his garden. The council made him take it down, but he didn’t,’ said Trippier.

‘A massive pole with a big England flag in the garden, brought the telly in the garden when it was nice weather. I can never forget it. ‘They wrote letters to him and everything, but he said: “I’m not taking it down”. It was brilliant. He’s mad for England, and Man United. It was hilarious. He’s already said he’ll put it up next summer.

‘He’s over the moon for me playing for England.. I’ll never forget when we were in France, they were both crying their eyes out.

‘Even playing in the youth set-up. They were always proud and I was always proud to play for England youth. But to make it to the senior squad, it was one of the proudest moments.’