Victor Anichebe has revealed how Everton teammate James Vaughan considered giving the game away.
The England Under-21 striker lost almost two years of his career with a serious knee problem before returning to fitness to claim a place in the Everton first team last season.
And while Everton are at a training camp in Los Angeles Vaughan is beginning his rehabilitation on Merseyside.
Fellow striker Anichebe, who has travelled to America, is hugely disappointed at his friend's latest injury problem.
"When it happened he just wanted to give up because he was thinking 'How can this happen to me again?"' said Anichebe.
"But it is not a career-threatening injury. It is the timing (of the injury) because he was doing so well and to get put back again is tough.
"He is all right now but at first he was a bit shook up. I was completely gutted for him because he has worked so hard to get back from his previous injury and now it's another setback.
"But he has fought back before and he will do it again. He is that kind of person. I know he will come back stronger.
"He just needs everyone around him helping him and pushing him. We are close mates and so I speak to him a lot and he has calmed down a bit now and just chilling out at the moment."
