Steven Pienaar has revealed that he considered retiring after struggling with groin and knee injuries this season.

The Everton midfielder has featured just 11 times for the Toffees because of his fitness struggles this campaign, but returned against Swansea City earlier this month after almost four months on the sidelines.

"At one stage, I thought I had better just hang my boots up and call it a day but on the other side I was just thinking that I enjoy going in and seeing the guys so I just had to stay strong and that kept me going," the Daily Mail quotes the 33-year-old as saying.

"When you are at home not coming in for training you feel very down but as soon as I walk through the door, there's always the camaraderie in the group, there is always fun.

"Even if you are injured, you can always laugh and it keeps you going. Just to be among the players, it's kept me going."

Pienaar missed Everton's last match against Burnley after struggling with muscle fatigue following his return.