Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has outlined his desire to help academy players that don't make it professionally in a powerful message shared on social media.
Hundreds of young players are released from football academies across the country each year and it's something that has previously been described as ' football's biggest issue '.
ITV News carried out a survey last year with footballers axed from clubs at the end of the 2019/20 season and almost 90% of players that responded said they had experienced depression or anxiety since being released.
The 23-year-old, who has made over 200 senior appearances for Liverpool, acknowledges he is 'one of the fortunate ones' but insists more that needs to be done to help those that aren't as lucky.
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"Over the last few years we've seen so many stories, sad and devastating stories, about lads that don't quite make it from the academy into the first team," he said in a social media video.
"I'm one of the very, very fortunate ones that managed to make it but there's so many lads that I know personally, being on the same journey from age six to seven all the way through, and they get to 16 and decisions are made and they don't quite make it.
"That's just the way the academies are set up in England. It's difficult for them, all they've known is being a footballer, everyone's always known them as being in the academy, then all of a sudden at 16/17 they're dropped and their whole world is shook.
"They don't know where to go, they don't know who to turn to, they feel like they're alone and I just feel like there is so much more that we can all be doing.
"Academies are working on it now, I know clubs are doing a lot more than what they used to and I know there are organisations set up that are helping these lads but there is so much more that we can be doing.
"We sacrifice a lot coming through [the academy], a lot of education, our social life, all you know throughout your whole life is football, football, football and then someone comes and wipes it from underneath your feet and you're alone.
"I've been asking myself a lot of questions recently about what I've done to help these lads, my friends and whether I've done enough. I think there's a lot more that I could be doing so I want to take more of a part in this and help these lads.
"Make sure they have the right tools, the right life experience because not everyone is going to make it so it's important we have a plan B, that's a vital thing, something to fall back on.
"It's something that's close to my heart and something I'm passionate about so I want to get involved as much as I can and let these lads know that they're not alone and I'm here to talk to them.
"Anyone that's been through these experiences please get in touch. I want to talk to you, I want to learn, I want to know what you're going through and I want to be able to help and do as much as I can."
The defender urged those affected to reach out and share their stories to info@taa.academy, in what he described as a 'first step' to truly understanding one of the biggest problems in the game.
