Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva: There were times I feared for my career

Lucas Leiva has admitted there were times when he thought his career might be over after the Liverpool midfielder suffered a season-ending knee injury in December.

The 25-year-old was one of the Reds’ standout performers in the first half of the season, making 12 appearances before rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Liverpool’s victory over Chelsea in the Carling Cup fifth round.

“It has been very hard for me because I have never been out for a month so you can imagine five months when I can’t play and only watch the games,” Leiva told Press Association Sport.

“I just had to cope with the injury and the time. As soon as you get the injury you know you will be out for many months and you start to think about other things.

“The most difficult period for me was when I was on crutches for two months, especially the first four weeks after the surgery when the knee was swollen.

“To be honest in a few moments I thought I couldn’t come back any more or even walk because the way I looked at my knee I felt scared.

“But as soon as I started the rehab it is unbelievable how your body reacts. My main target now is to be 100 per cent recovered and be okay to play a part in next season.”

Leiva has scored six goals in 183 appearances for Liverpool since Rafael Benítez signed the Brazil international for £5m from Gremio in 2007.

The Brazilian midfielder initially struggled to make an impact at Anfield, but Leiva has become one of Liverpool’s first-choice midfielders over the past two seasons.

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Read more on: Chelsea, Liverpool, Lucas Leiva, Premier League.