Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva admits he feared for his career over his injury problems in the past year.

Lucas suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury after a collision with Chelsea's Juan Mata last December and was out for seven months.

Then, five minutes into Liverpool's second league game of this season, Lucas suffered a thigh strain against Manchester City that meant another three months out.

The Brazilian, 25, said: "My first injury was a huge blow, but the second simply left me shattered.

"Players can have muscle injuries after knee surgery but mine was not only severe but also happened in the other leg!

"It was hard to take. You couldn't help questioning if there was something wrong with my body.

"The worst part was when the club doctors told me I was going to be out for three months. I didn't expect to be sidelined for so long.

"To make matters worse, the advice was for me to have complete rest for the first week to protect the muscle. For seven days I had to lay down at home, knowing I had hurt myself quite badly but at the same time without the proper ways to divert my mind.

"Even picking my son up was not recommended. It goes without saying that I feared for the consequences for my career."