Tottenham winger Andres Townsend has admitted he hit a low after missing out on last year's World Cup due to an ankle injury.

The 23-year old required ankle surgery prior to the FIFA tournament last summer, ruling him out of Roy Hodgson's plans for Brazil.

"I was told by a specialist that I would need an operation on the ankle," he told The Express.

"You feel like it's the end of the world. I'd gone from nowhere to being in line for a place at the World Cup and it's difficult to take.

"You never know if you'll be involved in another one. It feels like your life has come crashing down.

"As soon as I'd had the operation I went away for 10 days, turned my phone off, chilled and tried to forget about everything."

Townsend then agreed to work as a pundit in Brazil and admits it was a very testing time watching from the sidelines.

"When I accepted the role I thought it was going to be easier than it was. But it really hit me when England played Uruguay and I had to go pitchside," he added.

"I was standing there, with trousers, shirt and shoes on and a microphone in my hand watching the players I had played with warming up. That's when it became difficult. All the emotions went through my mind and it was really difficult."