'Football helped me get away from it all':

The Newcastle United striker was the first to admit that 'life was a struggle' as the eldest of six in a single-parent household with a different father to his siblings.

- CALLUM Wilson has bravely revealed that he considered taking his own life as a child, writes CIARAN KELLY.

Wilson endured a difficult upbringing in Coventry and, as well as relying on foodbanks, the number nine spent time in foster care and safehouses after his mother experienced domestic violence.

"I would cry myself to sleep at night," the Newcastle United striker told High Performance.

"I got to about 12, 13 and no one really knows this to be honest and I was debating whether to say it, but my wife said to be open and tell people your story.

"There were suicidal moments basically. Ultimately, when I say I cried myself to sleep, I was just praying to God to take me out of this environment.