Liverpool Captain Steven Gerrard: "I had doubts if I'd ever return"

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has admitted to the club's official magazine his being concerned as to whether he would return from a horrific groin injury during the "hardest six months of my career". Asked if he feared for his career, Gerrard said:"I think it's only natural you have doubts and different things do cross your mind. Last weekend Gerrard made his first start in six months when he played against Manchester United in the 1-1 draw, marking a return to action with a goal. The above image is Gerrard's free-kick against Manchester United, his 85th league goal. "There were times when I was as low as I've ever been as a footballer." Gerrard said that before the operation he needed injections to get through games. "Basically, I knew that wasn't right," he added. "I was missing training sessions and coming in the day before a game trying to get that last session in or having injections to play the next day. "You can only do that for a certain amount of time before your body gives in - and mine gave in. "My groin packed in on me and, when it happened, I was down and I was low. I knew it was going to be a serious one, something I wasn't used to. I had to try to be positive but I will admit that I was down." "When it happened, it took time before I got back into a positive frame of mind," Gerrard said. "Without doubt the last six months have been the hardest of my career."