Van Ginkel: I'm always positive, but 3 surgeries in 6 days made me depressed

Chelsea's forgotten man Marco van Ginkel has revealed how his injury nightmare plunged him into depression.

The Dutch international, an £8million Blues buy in 2013, said he feared his career was over after THREE operations in SIX days.

Midfielder Van Ginkel is back at Stamford Bridge following loans to AC Milan, Stoke and PSV Eindhoven.

The 27-year-old last played in May 2018, captaining PSV to a second title in three years.

He had surgery to rebuild a knee ligament that summer, but a string of complications has delayed his comeback until next month.

Van Ginkel is out of contract next summer, but hopes Chelsea take up their option to extend his stay until 2022.

The former Vitesse Arnhem ace has made just four senior Blues appearances, the last under Jose Mourinho in 2013.

He told NOS: "I played my final PSV games with knee pain. It got worse and worse, as our bodies aren't built to work without cruciates.

"Everything went well at first after I had surgery, but ill fate struck once more after three weeks.

"I was told I had a very serious and aggressive infection. I became ill, and my knee swelled up.

"The doctors didn't know what the matter was for two weeks. It turned out my new cruciate was damaged.

"I became depressed at that point, when I learnt that everything had to be taken out once more.

"I needed another operation, but didn't know when. My knee had to be cleaned out to remove the infection.

"So I underwent surgery three times in six days. You could say that was quite an event!

"Infections like that can end a player's entire career.

"In the end I recovered well from the clean-out, but then I had to wait five months before I could do anything football-wise.

"The months dragged on. I have come through a sombre spell.

"I am a positive person, and the people at Chelsea have always supported me.

"Quitting is not a word in my dictionary - but I have had plenty of annoying days behind me.

"I still feel like a Chelsea player. I'm at the club every day among the other players, and I know all the doctors and physios.

"You'll have to ask Frank Lampard if he sees me as an option for the future.

"But Chelsea have an option to extend my contract by two more seasons. Let's wait and see.

"My initial focus is on getting fit once more, and then we will look further ahead."