Swansea City midfielder Matt Grimes says his spell with Leeds United nearly 'destroyed' him as he prepares to face his former club tonight, report the Mirror (13/02, Page 57).

Grimes made the move to Elland Road on loan from the Swans back in the 2016/17 season but a lack of game time nearly ruined the sport for him.

“It completely destroyed all confidence I had in myself,” Grimes said.

“Football had made me so low I didn’t want anything to do with it if I didn’t have to.

“I never really got a run of games (at Leeds) and it spiralled from there.”

During his season with the Yorkshire club, Grimes made just seven appearances in the Championship and 12 in total, including their embarrassing 1-0 loss to Sutton United in the FA Cup.

This season has been much better for the 23-year-old, however, playing in 30 Championship matches already and proving a favourite of manager Graham Potter.

Swansea currently sit in 11th place whilst their midweek hosts currently occupy second-place, although have won just twice in their last seven matches.

When the two sides met earlier in the season, the match finished 2-2 in an entertaining affair that ended Marcelo Bielsa's perfect start as Leeds manager.

The verdict 

It is very easy to forget that Grimes was a Leeds players at all.

But, like he said, it clearly was not the right place for him. It is a big risk sending a promising young player into what was a pretty poisonous atmosphere at the time.

It is great to see him bounce back to his best this season, however.