WINGER Arnaut Danjuma opened up about the mental struggles of dealing with injury while trying to make an impact at Cherries.

The Netherlands international has been plagued by a stress fracture to his foot since the middle of December – he also suffered a foot injury during a pre-season friendly earlier in the campaign.

And having played just nine times in the Premier League since joining the Dorset outfit from Club Brugge last summer, the 23-year-old admitted his life felt incomplete when he was not able to take to the field.

Speaking on the Freshly Grounded podcast, Danjuma said: “After the first injury I started playing, gave my first assist and I was doing all right.

“I got injured again and it was a backlash. We are all human. Me personally, I have been through a lot in my life, I had to grow up really fast, so I know what life’s about.

“I know how to be mentally strong and get through tough times.

“But still, you are human. The first days I was really angry and really bothered with a lot of stuff.

“Football in my life means a lot to me and it’s the thing I love to do the most every day. If I can’t do that, it’s like my life is not completed.

“I really wanted to prove myself for the team, for the fans. I really wanted to show the world what I’m capable of.

“I can act tough and say it didn’t hurt me or didn’t touch me but it did. I was angry, I was bothered as well.

“But then again after some days you need to go back to the basics again. It’s just about praying, having faith.”