West Ham United winger Stewart Downing says time with Liverpool was the lowest point of his career. The midfielder, now at West Ham, has admitted he was "hurt" by Kop boss Rodgers' treatment and suggestions he needed to try harder, and knew then he had to quit the Anfield giants.
When asked whether being played at left-back was as low as it got, Downing replied: "I think so, yes. I was out of the team (at Liverpool) so for me just to play and get back in the team was a big thing.
"At left-back it was obviously difficult, but it was a chance to get back into the team for me, so I had to go along with it. I wasn't happy playing left-back. It is not my natural position. But I knew from then it was the time for me to move.
"I was getting signals other players were coming in, and I was getting used at left-back when I was a winger. I think you know when the writing is on the wall for you under a manager or at a club.
"The West Ham move came at a good time for me and was a chance to go out and play football regularly and play under a manager who wanted me to play every week."
