Inter Milan veteran Dejan Stankovic admits he considered hanging up the boots as he battled injury.

Stankovic, now 34, has been battling to get back into action after a problematic Achilles tendon injury halted his career.

"The nightmare is over, now I hope to get back to full fitness and help my team out," he said. "I'd like to thank the fans for the amazing reception they gave me - it was like a second debut."