'I wasn't able to play football properly' - Chris Hussey opens up on mental struggles that blighted Sheffield United spell

The left-back arrived at Bramall Lane in the early stages of Chris Wilder's reign, but played only 11 times for the Blades before going out on loan to Swindon Town.

A permanent move to Cheltenham Town helped revive his career and recently gained a first-class degree in exercise and sport science, while his daughter Cora is 18 months old.

“I didn’t really say anything at Bury and I am not speaking about this now because I want people to get the violins out either,” Hussey insisted.

“I struggled massively, but when I was at Sheffield United I opened up eventually, even if I wish I’d done it sooner.

“I was at a new club, I’d split up with [partner] Cavella and I was struggling in a new city. I wasn’t able to play football properly.

“It was the most money I’ve ever been on, but I was at my unhappiest

“I didn’t want to tell anyone and I tried to deal with it all myself, but when I went on loan to Swindon, Sheffield United’s doctor (known simply as Dr Baz) got involved and was able to explain what I was struggling with – he is an unbelievable man and I can't explain how much he helped me.

“The conditions I have will never leave me, but I have the tools to deal with it now.

“Things hit me now and again, but you deal with it the best you can and my big thing is not judging a book by its cover because you never know what someone’s going through.”

'Dr Baz' is Subhashis Basu, a popular member of United's medical team who was also instrumental in mitigating the damage when Paul Coutts suffered a broken leg at Burton Albion.

Basu is helping Hussey in his aim to get an academic paper published and is in a better place, on and off the football field.

“I reached a point where I wasn’t sleeping at all,” he admitted to Gloucestershire Live.

“I was addicted to sleeping tablets and despite not sleeping, I was playing some of my best football, setting up 19 goals and getting a move to Sheffield United.

"I’ve been seeing a clinical psychologist for five or six years now because there have been times when I haven’t been able to function.

"At one point I was having to set aside 20 minutes to check all my doors were locked, but no matter how difficult things become, you can get through it.”

Hussey described current Cheltenham boss Michael Duff as the best manager he has worked under, in terms of understanding him as a person, and together they have helped The Robins to third in the League Two table, three points behind leaders Newport County ahead of this weekend's clash with Walsall.

Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club. This depth of Blades coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details HERE. Your support is much appreciated. Chris Holt, Football Editor