INJURY HELL DROVE ROSE TO THERAPY
Spurs star feared for his career
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 Rose has admitted he nearly hit rock-bottom during his time away from playing.
‘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 to 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 to help keep me positive as well.
‘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. 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 any time soon and it was really difficult.’
Rose is set to make his longawaited return to international football in the forthcoming friendlies against Germany and Brazil.
But the full back said there was a time when he lost his motivation to return from the treatment table.
‘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,’ said the 27-year-old.
‘But seeing Tottenham play against Dortmund at Back in action: Rose with Spurs on Sunday 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, Rose’s Tottenham team-mate Kieran Trippier has revealed he reduced his parents to tears — particularly his father Chris — after making his England debut against France in June. ‘During the 2010 World Cup, my dad had a big flag in his garden,’ said Trippier, 27. ‘The council made him take it down, but he didn’t. 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 Manchester 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.’