Brighton's Knockaert seeks club assistance over bereavement

Brighton striker Anthony Knockaert has said that he is seeking assistance from his club to process the death of his father.

The death occurred ten months ago, with a cancer diagnosis proceeding it just a few weeks beforehand. The one-year anniversary of his father’s death is a fast approaching, which has prompted the 25-year old, former France under-21 international to seek help.

"Sometimes I feel I need to talk to someone just to help myself through. At the moment I just cry. I am not scared to tell you this because it's just life, you know," he told the Daily Mail.

"I have been speaking with the club about a counsellor and I think they will try to find someone for me. I still have a tough time and I need a person to help me.

"I need to get stronger. I need to talk to someone about what is in my heart. I just didn't know it would be this hard."

Knockaert was superb for Brighton in the Championship last season as the Seagulls won promotion to the top flight, but behind the scenes, he admits not all was right with him.

"I didn't really cope last season. What you see on the field doesn't always tell the story," he says. "I haven't got over it and may never get over it. Every day I think about my dad. Sometimes at night with sleep I am struggling.

"I tell myself I can cope by working hard for him. When he was ill, near the end, he said I had to get promoted for him. He wouldn't be happy if I gave up now, even if I did feel like it.

"My first game after he died I was really bad. Mentally I was gone. I scored about one month later against Birmingham and that really helped to make me feel I could still do it, but I am not going to lie, it's still hard sometimes.

"In one or two months it will be one year and I know I will be scared of that day. One year is nothing. Everything is still fresh and I am going to have another tough period, I know."

Brighton's Premier League game against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, 1 September is live on BT Sport 1 on the eir Sport pack [kick off 1.30pm].

Image: Getty/Steve Bardens.

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