Steven Caulker has admitted he contemplated suicide when his drinking and gambling problems got the better of him

The former Tottenham and Queens Park Rangers defender made his England debut in 2012 and seemed destined for a great career.

However, unbeknownst to most, Caulker was battling a much tougher challenge off the pitch.

In an interview with Guardian, Caulker revealed: "'I've sat here for years hating myself and never understood why I couldn't just be like everyone else.

"This year was almost the end. I felt for large periods there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

"My way of dealing with [the pressures of football], even in the early stages of my career, was gambling.

"I'm an addict. I'm addicted to winning, which people say is a positive in football but certainly not when it extends to gambling.

"I'd had one last gamble and lost a hell of a lot of money in December. A last blowout.

"It was at that point I finally accepted I could not win; that there was no quick fix, no more daydreaming I could save the world through one good night on the roulette wheel.

"It was all a fantasy that took me away from having to feel anything. I contemplated suicide a lot in that period. A dark time."