Jake: I felt it was over

JAKE LIVERMORE has revealed he never thought he’d play again after his career went off the rails with a drugs ban two years ago.

The midfield star tested positive for cocaine during a random test in April 2015 and was suspended by his club Hull City and the FA.

But a disciplinary hearing four months later lifted the suspension after hearing the former Spurs star, had been devastated by the death of his newborn son Jake jnr. He had also passed 10 previous random tests without a problem.

Since then Livermore, 27, now at West Brom after his £10million move in the January window, has got his life back on track and is in England boss Gareth Southgate’s plans for the future.

But he admits there were dark days when he thought his career was over for good.

“It’s definitely been a journey and I am very much trying to grasp this chance with both hands. I am really enjoying it at the moment so hopefully it continues,” said Livermore who won his second Three Lions cap after a near five-year gap against Germany last week.

“There was a stage in my life where I didn’t think I was going to play at all, let alone for England.

“I didn’t honestly think this call-up would happen as quick as it did, if at all.”