A knee problem had kept him out of Premier League action since January until he was named as a surprise starter again Crystal Palace in the 1-0 Tottenham win at Wembley on Sunday.
But back in the international fold at St George’s Park the England full-back also admitted he had suffered from mental issues, too.
“I have started seeing a psychologist to try and help me think positive,” he said. “Whenever I have the time to go and see them – I think I have seen them now about four or five times and they have been a massive help for me.
“I have started reading books now to try and help keep me positive as well.
“You know, this injury has been one of the most difficult periods of my life, but you have got to try and think of positives in any situation.
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“I have been impressed, jealous, angry – I have been through a whole load of emotions over the past nine months, not just the season.
“I’ve just been itching to get going for the past couple of weeks and I’m just grateful that I’m back in amongst it now.”
This time, though, he is taking nothing for granted and now has a greater respect for the natural frailty of the human body.
“Last season I was doing well, I felt untouchable, I felt like I was one of the best – I felt that if I carried on with that form, anything could have happened,” he told TalkSport.
“Then the injury happened. It humbled me, it brought me back down to earth, it gave me a reality check.
“It just made me realise that football can be taken away from you at any given point.
“It happened in a freak accident and it was very hard to deal with, especially at the time I thought I’d only be out for a couple of weeks.
“But the weeks turned to months and I really didn’t see myself playing again anytime soon and it was really difficult.
“Really, really difficult, hence the reason why I’m speaking to somebody now to help me with that.”