Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel has opened up on his shocking run of knee injuries.

Van Ginkel has revealed how he became depressed after his injury nightmare.

The forgotten Chelsea man feared his career was over, after undergoing three operations on his knee in six days back in 2018.

The Dutch midfielder is back at Stamford Bridge following loan spells to AC Milan, Stoke and PSV Eindhoven.

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

"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. I won't give up easy, because I'm not a quitter."

Van Ginkel, who was a youngster when Lampard still played at Stamford Bridge, hopes the manager will give him an opportunity in the future.

He said: "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."