Danny Rose thanks England boss Gareth Southgate for helping him through injury hell
Spurs left-back has recently returned from eight months out and revealed during his rehabilitation he was never far from Southgate’s thoughts.
DANNY ROSE thanked England boss Gareth Southgate for helping him through his injury crisis — and Tottenham chief Mauricio Pochettino for keeping it Real.
The Spurs star, 27, today joins up with Southgate and his Three Lions squad ahead of their friendlies against Germany on Friday and Brazil the following Tuesday.
Rose has only recently returned to action after eight months out with a knee injury.
But he revealed during his rehabilitation he was never far from Southgate’s thoughts.
He said: “I have spoken to Gareth a lot. I did a bit of my rehab at the England training centre before I started training here.
“I was around him for three weeks and we had dinner together most days and spoke pretty much every day.
“He has been brilliant. He has called me and texted me — he has been first class to be fair.”
Rose headed to St George’s Park after hurting his knee in Spurs’ 0-0 draw at Sunderland on January 31.
He said: “I went there for a change of scenery. I had spent a long time in the same physio room and it got a bit much — so I needed a break.
“It was nice that the England manager was up for me going up there and doing some rehab there. It helped me mentally.”
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Rose also praised Pochettino for welcoming him back into the Spurs fold after the left-back’s criticism of his boss and signings in an exclusive interview with The Sun in August.
Poch showed he held no grudges against Rose for speaking out by handing him his long-awaited return from injury as a late sub in Tottenham’s 1-1 draw against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu last month.
Rose said: “Me and the gaffer are fine. We speak most days.
“In the last three years, the lads will tell you I am the one in his office the most, speaking to him and going through videos and sharing text messages. Even going round his house.
“He has been great at integrating me back into the team and getting me minutes.
“Putting me on against Real Madrid, even though it was only for ten minutes, was a class act on his part.
“It made me feel part of it again, even though he didn’t need to bring me on.
“As long as we’ve both got the same goals, which is to win a trophy for Tottenham, then there’s nothing to worry about.”
Spurs chiefs were angry with Rose for opening his heart to The Sun.
But he said: “For my part, it is all forgotten. I think it is forgotten on the club’s part, too.
“There is no point dwelling on it. We want to take the club forward, win the league and go as far as possible in the Champions League.”
And Rose has been thrilled by the fans’ support since his return.
He said: “I don’t think there is any relationship-building needed. The fans showed me that at Real Madrid away.
“I was not so much nervous as wary of the reception I was going to get but it was brilliant. I was not expecting that reception.
“It was brilliant then, brilliant against West Ham and brilliant again against Palace.
“I think they have forgiven me and once I am on the pitch I would like to think everybody knows I always give 100 per cent.”
But he admits he is still not 100 per cent fit. He said: “It has been hard mentally watching the team do well over the last ten months. I am just grateful to be back part of it.
“There are no words to describe how frustrating it has been.
“I am not 100 per cent yet. I need another month of training and playing games.
“But hopefully I’ll stay injury-free and help this club go one stage further this season.”
