WHEN Yohan Cabaye failed to sparkle in the early stages of this season, the speculation on both sides of the Channel was that the Newcastle United midfielder's head had been turned by talk of a transfer away from St James' Park.

Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United were all mentioned as possible destinations for the talismanic 27-year-old, so when the transfer window closed with him still on Tyneside, the suggestion was that depression had set in.

It had, but the change in Cabaye's mood had nothing to do with any unresolved transfer talk.

Instead, the former French double winner was struggling to overcome the mental anguish that emerged in the wake of France's undistinguished departure from Euro 2012 last summer and continued to have an impact deep into the current campaign.

"I was convinced I'd pick up where I'd left off, but no," said Cabaye. "My body didn't follow what I wanted it to do. When I got up in the morning, I felt tired."I love football, and watch all the games from Ligue 2 on a Friday to the big game (in Ligue 1) on Sunday night, but when I saw football, I turned over. I wanted to think about other things.

"I'm not afraid to say it, that's (depression) what it was. But I'd been reassured after reading the books of Jonny Wilkinson and Rafael Nadal in which they both spoke about the same thing. They both talked about a form of post-competition depression, a need to take a break, that their body wouldn't do what it was told.

"I asked myself questions. It was the first time that had happened to me, and it really hits you. I hear others talk about it often, but if it doesn't happen to you personally, you can't understand. On the other hand, when you're the person concerned, it's not easy to handle. But I knew things would come back."

Given his successful rugby union career as a Newcastle Falcon, it is perhaps fitting that Cabaye sought solace in the words of Wilkinson, a similarly deep thinker who constantly challenges his own relationship with the game that has brought him fame and fortune.

Cabaye gradually came to accept that he could do nothing to change the outcome of last summer's tournament, and began to set himself new goals and targets to achieve.

His mental rehabilitation was also aided by a physical setback, namely the groin problem that sidelined him from mid-November to mid-January and required him to return to his homeland for an operation.

Back in the bosom of his friends and family, he was able to reassess his position and adopt a much more positive mindset.

"I went to Lille, saw my family and friends, and when I came back to Newcastle in December, one of my friends who plays in the amateur fourth-tier told me, 'I'm warning you. You start again with Newcastle, and if you come back to Lille and tell me that you don't have any desire to do that, I'll give you a hiding'," said Cabaye, who revealed his mental torment in a frank interview with French newspaper L'Equipe.

Since returning towards the end of January, Cabaye's performances have improved markedly, to the point where he can claim to be Newcastle's most important player as they battle to safeguard their Premier League status while simultaneously looking forward to an impending Europa League quarter-final with Benfica.

Alan Pardew appears to have earmarked the France international as his preferred successor to current skipper Fabricio Coloccini, who is expected to be granted his wish of a return to South America in the summer, and with his close friend, Mathieu Debuchy, having joined him on Tyneside during the January transfer window, Cabaye appears more than happy with his lot.

"Physically, I feel very good," he said. "I've strung together matches, and I'm ready to fight for the club. I want to give twice as much to save the club from relegation.

"I feel really good now. Now that that episode is over, I enjoy going to training, and getting out on the pitch much more. I appreciate my good fortune. I realised that, unconsciously, that enthusiasm could disappear. That's the most dangerous thing. You have to look after it."

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