Trevor Carson bravely opens up on his mental health battle - and reflects on the difficult period since leaving Hartlepool United

The 31-year-old left Pools after their relegation to the National League, having quickly been snapped-up by Scottish giants Motherwell in 2017.

But in his second season at Fir Park, Carson was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis – meaning his missed almost 18 months of competitive action.

Deep vein thrombosis, which can be life-threatening if not treated properly, is a blood clot that develops within a deep vein in the body and is usually found in the leg, groin or arm. However, in Carson’s case, it was found on his lung.

Having battled back to full fitness, the Northern Irish international was prepped for a first start in almost two years before the Scottish Premier League ground to a halt.

And now, as part of Lanarkshire Live Sport's Tackle The Shutdown campaign, Carson has opened up on his battle with mental health during this tricky period – in a bid to raise awareness and to help those also struggling during this difficult period.

“It’s been that long since I’ve played and the manager had said to me that once we secured top six he was going to give me a chance, because obviously Mark [Gillespie] hadn’t signed his new contract,” said Carson, speaking to the Daily Record.

“He was looking to next season a bit and he told me I was definitely going to get a couple of games.

“You wait that long for a game, I think it had been 18 months or something since my illness, and then this happens.

“It’s just my luck at times. It has been a massive disappointment.

“The manager pulled me in the week before the Aberdeen game. He had said to me about a month or so before that Friday game that when we had secured the top four he could afford to put me back in the team.

“He told me I wasn’t playing against Aberdeen because he didn’t think it was right to put me in for a game of that magnitude, but he would definitely look to use me the week after.

“He told me I had 10 days to get prepped, so in my mind there was a good chance of playing that following week.

“This coronavirus thing was sort of lingering in the background and I remember texting my missus straight away and saying there is a chance I’ll play next week. I said knowing my luck this will all be cancelled. She laughed and said surely my luck isn’t that bad, but lo and behold it was all called off.

“There are more important things in the world. People have lost loved ones, myself included, but you obviously have a bit of sympathy for yourself; it’s been tough.”

“At times I’ve found myself falling into a lazy mindset fitness wise,” Carson continued, when asked how he was dealing with the lockdown.

“You have the personal pride of keeping yourself in condition but you lose that edge.

“I’ve got a new routine now with looking after the little one, before I know it I look at the clock and it’s five o’clock.

“It’s so important to get up. I wake up some mornings and feel awful. I went for a 25 minute plod but I came back and it kicked me off for the rest of the day.

“I’ve had my mental health problems in the past and it definitely comes over me when I have too much time to think about stuff.

“Something to keep your mind active is so important.”

Carson at least knows that his future is secure. He penned a new two-and-a-half year deal with Motherwell in January, keeping him with the club until at least the summer of 2022.

But a host of others players – including fellow former Poolie Peter Hartley – face a trickier period, having been left without a club as seasons across the globe grind to a halt.

“The PFA are trying to help boys, for example, our skipper Peter Hartley has kids and a mortgage and his contract is up at the end of the month.

“Clubs won’t sign you because they don’t know when they’ll be back, but he still has to put food on the table.

“I’m so fortunate in that sense that I signed a contract in January; I can’t imagine what those boys are thinking.”