Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has revealed that he considered leaving the club in the off-season due to a lack of first team football.
Jenas found it difficult to break into Spurs' first team last season after struggling to overcome a persistent groin injury which eventually required surgery.
The injury also put on hold a blossoming international career, and at his lowest ebb the 27-year-old considered leaving the North London club for greener pastures.
"I was carrying a groin injury for at least a year - maybe because I was under a bit of pressure in my own position and I was trying to just delay, delay, delay the surgery. But I had to do it in the end," Jenas said.
"I was taking painkillers to try to get through it and in the end it just broke down."
"At one time I felt I'd have to leave because all I wanted to do was play football and I wasn't getting games here."
"But despite the offers that came in, they were not worth leaving for."
Now, Jenas has fought his way back into the first team frame and is eyeing a key role in Spurs' maiden Champions League campaign.
"There has been constant rumours about me leaving but I just wanted to be settled and part of the Tottenham team again," he said.
"This is the best I've felt since a few years ago."
"There's Champions League football now and I'll be fighting tooth and nail to get a regular starting place."