Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam has admitted that he struggled on the pitch in the wake of his father's death three years ago.
Adam's father, who was 50, died at his home suddenly in 2012, and the Scotland international didn't start a game for the Potters for three months.
He told BBC Sport: "It was a real blow to me and really killed me a little bit in terms of confidence and the way I was playing. The thing that happened with my dad was a big disappointment.
"You've got to try to refocus yourself and that's what I've done and hopefully I can keep improving and playing as well. I know that's what he would want me to do. To keep playing as well as I can, playing at the highest level."
Adam has recently signed a new contract extension with the Potters.
