Detroit Lions running back Mikel Leshoure has revealed that he is glad to have been given a second chance with the club after two fairly disappointing seasons.

There was talk that the Lions were interested in trading Leshoure, but the player will remain with the team and is looking to pay back the faith shown in him by head coach Martin Mayhew.

"Last year was a tough year for me," Leshoure told the club's official website. "If I can say one guy was in my corner, I would say it was Martin. I'm not saying [everyone else wasn't], but if I can say one guy was, Martin was.

"So to hear he wants me to stick around and he has a role for me, it feels good to hear that, because at one point last year, I didn't know what was going on, if I would be here or if I would play or what."

Leshoure played just three times last season after starting 14 games in his first year at the club.