Tottenham Hotspur left-back Danny Rose has told the BBC that a psychologist helped him deal with his nine-month injury layoff, saying he was struggling with anger and jealousy.
Rose injured his knee at Sunderland on Jan. 31 and he finally returned in a 10-minute cameo at Real Madrid last month before starting in the EFL Cup defeat to West Ham and Spurs' 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.
"I thought I'd be out for a couple of weeks, but weeks turned to months and I really didn't see myself playing again any time soon," the 27-year-old said.
"It's good to talk to people and share your problems. I wish I'd done that at the start of my injury."
Asked to describe how he has felt watching from the sidelines, Rose said: "Impressed, jealous, angry. I've been through a whole load of emotions.
"Last season I felt untouchable, like I was one of the best, then the injury humbled me, brought me back down to earth and it was very hard to deal with.
"It was only two months ago that I was doing some rehab and I lost my appetite for wanting to get back fit because I didn't think it was ever going to happen. Seeing Tottenham win against Dortmund and having the Madrid trip to look forward to brought my hunger back for football."
Rose, who will continue his comeback in the upcoming England friendlies against Germany and Brazil after being included in Gareth Southgate's squad, added: "I feel as if I'm stronger.
"It's my first serious injury in 10 years as a professional. Touch wood it never happens again. But if it did, I'd know what to expect. It'll help me to know I'm not alone.
"There are people out there willing to help, not just in football. They can give you thoughts to help you improve, not just physically but mentally as well."
Rose's fellow Spurs and England full-back Kieran Trippier revealed that he has also turned to outside help in the form of a nutritionist after arriving at the club from Burnley with high body fat in summer 2015.
"When I was at Burnley and we got our body fat done I had a really good percentage," Trippier said. "[Manager] Sean Dyche was happy. I went to Tottenham and I was well high -- I think they pinch you tougher at Tottenham. Unless it was my all-inclusive holiday in Mexico... Must've been the mojitos. I was much higher than what I was at Burnley, and I had to lose it all. Which I did.
"I enjoyed myself, with my missus and friends, but because at Tottenham we're playing Saturday to Tuesday, even Wednesday to Sunday, and with the intensity we play at, playing in the Champions League, we can't afford to have a night off."
He added: "We've got the chef, the nutritionist. I wasn't in the best shape when I came to Tottenham and the manager let me know that. He told me that and within six months of getting there I was in great condition. You learn a lot from the nutritionists."
Meanwhile, Tottenham and England star Eric Dier has backed Southgate's England cull for the glamour friendlies at Wembley.
The manager did not include squad regulars Daniel Sturridge, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jermain Defoe and Chris Smalling in his 26-man group for the double-header and has continued to overlook Jack Wilshere. Fraser Forster and Aaron Cresswell were also left out.
"It is the way it has to be," Dier said. "Playing for your country is the pinnacle of football.
"It is what you all want to do and it has to be special. I think that it's essential, you cannot just think you will be in very squad because you have done 'X and X' in previous years. It has to be constant.
"You always have to be on your toes to get the call-up otherwise you can become complacent and I don't think that is a good thing."