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Danny Rose is still getting thanks from fans for coming clean about his battle with depression.

In a rare display of candour, the Tottenham and England left-back Rose revealed his struggle with the illness ahead of this summer's World Cup finals.

Now, speaking to the Mirror ahead of the new Premier League season, he revealed the response he has received left him tearful.

In fact, the overwhelmingly positive feedback continues to do more to encourage men to speak up about their emotions than many of the conventional campaigns that had gone before.

“The reaction I've had has been unbelievable,” said Rose. “I was back home in Doncaster over the weekend. My brother plays for Grimsby and I was at the game (against Forest Green). I had two people come up to me at the game thanking me for what I’d said.

“They had suffered from it and it had helped them.

(Image: FIFA via Getty) (Image: Reuters)

“I went away with England, there was a member of staff there who’d suffered from it and it thanked me as well.

“It just made me wish maybe I’d done it sooner. Or maybe after the World Cup, but yes, I’m glad I did it in the end.

“I remember we played at Leeds - England against Costa Rica before the World Cup. I remember waking up that morning, the morning after it came out. I woke up to a lot of messages and I got really upset. I wasn’t expecting it. I wasn’t expecting the amount of messages that I got.”

England manager Gareth Southgate was on hand with the right words to enable Rose to deal with the aftermath.

(Image: Daily Mirror) (Image: FIFA via Getty)

“Gareth called me to have a meeting with him,” he said. “We had a walk around the hotel and, again, he gave me some really nice words. It was a funny few days for me.

“Then that night we played against Costa Rica and after the game the manager said that it was one of the best games he’d seen me play.

“It was as though I’d got a lot of things off my chest.”

FA chief executive Martin Glenn revealed last week that the Football Association want to offer Southgate a significant pay-rise to extend his contract to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

England’s run to the semi-finals in Russia has done more to reconnect the national team with the country’s fans than any of Southgate’s highly-paid predecessors over the last 15 years.

(Image: REUTERS)

If Rose’s feelings are anything to go by, Southgate signing on for the longer term would get the seal of approval from the England dressing room.

“I can only speak for myself but I’d definitely love him and all of his coaching staff to stay,” he said. “They’ve been great with me.”

Despite seeing England’s left wing-back position occupied by Ashley Young at the World Cup, Rose added: “I had a conversation with Gareth out in Russia. He was telling me to keep going.

“I’m somebody who is really unhappy if I don’t play. Its always hard being away from home for so long but the manager and his staff made it as enjoyable as possible.

(Image: AFP/Getty) (Image: PA Wire)

“I told him that I was finding it a bit difficult not playing, but he was always giving me words of encouragement.

“So, for me, I’d love him to stay. I have a great relationship with him.

“I speak to him outside of England camps and he has been brilliant for me. I’d love him to stay.”

* Danny Rose joined England and Spurs teammate Kieran Trippier and a host of ex-pros this weekend at the FA and McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards.

Thirteen volunteers, coaches and clubs were recognised at this year’s event, which is a chance to thank the thousands of people who help children and young people all over the UK to play football.

(Image: Ryan Browne/FA)

This year’s winners included young cerebral palsy sufferers Will and James Bather, who won Supporter of the Year for their work on the sidelines supporting their sister’s club, Neston Nomads Under 12s.

The Awards form part of McDonald’s 16 year partnership with the FA which aims to provide more than five million hours of fun football for children by 2022.

Find out more at www.mcdonalds.co.uk/grassroots