YOHAN CABAYE has revealed how Jonny Wilkinson helped him through his battle with depression.
The Newcastle midfielder has lifted the lid on his post-Euro 2012 trauma which saw him return from Poland and Ukraine drained.And Cabaye admits it was the books of England rugby hero Wilko and tennis superstar Rafa Nadal that guided him through his troubles.
The French maestro, 27, said: “Depression? I am not afraid to say that. It was that.
“I was reassured reading the books of Jonny Wilkinson and Rafael Nadal, who both talked about the same thing.
“They talked about post competition depression and the need to have a break.
“Euro 2012 was the first big international competition I had played. It is completely different than what you could experience in daily life with your club.
“My season was long in a league where the pace is higher than in Le Championnat.
“I started with Newcastle early in July 2011 and finished late in June 2012 and, for the very first time, I didn’t have any winter break so then to resume in July 2012, it was very difficult.
“Maybe it is difficult to start again after a big competition such as the Euros, but my body didn’t allow me to do what I wanted to do.
“On a morning when I woke up, I could still feel tiredness. I wanted to think about something else rather than football.”
Cabaye had an operation on his groin last November which kept him on the sidelines for two months.
But the former Lille star has been back to his best since returning in January and believes a bit of time out did him the world of good.
Cabaye told L’Equipe: “I am lucky to earn a living with my passion, but it was the right moment for a break.
“So my groin injury at the end of the year was finally not such a bad thing. Maybe that is why I was back earlier than expected.
“My injury allowed me to have some rest, meet my family and friends in Lille. When I was back in Newcastle in December I knew I felt better
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