Wilfried Zaha has revealed that he felt "worthless" during his short time at Manchester United last season.
The 22-year-old, who rejoined former club Crystal Palace on a permanent deal in February to end his Old Trafford nightmare, made just four appearances for the Red Devils before being loaned out to Cardiff City.
Having now found his feet once more at Palace, making 27 appearances in all competitions since returning to South London, Zaha is keen to put the turbulent spell in his career behind him.
"It's a great relief. There is nothing worse than not being involved," he told the Daily Telegraph. "You are sitting there thinking 'what exactly am I? A footballer who is not playing football?' You feel a bit worthless sitting in the stands, watching all the time. You have nothing to speak about with the players.
"If you have played the game then it's "well done" or "you should have passed here or there". But when you haven't played... I think people lose a bit of respect for you. I think they are thinking 'well, he's not played'. They don't have anything to speak to you about. It's a big thing.'
"There were so many rumours about me that were not true. And they hurt me because all I was doing was keeping my head down to do my best every time and then after training I'd go home and there would be something in the paper or wherever about me not having a good attitude and that's why I wasn't playing, rumours about my private life and that's why I wasn't playing, me turning up late for this, turning up late for that."
Zaha initially joined United in a deal worth £15m while Sir Alex Ferguson was still at the helm, but the Red Devils are thought to have taken a big hit on that figure when selling him back to the Eagles earlier this year.
Daniel Lewis
