Let's get the obvious out of the way to start with. Being a footballer is a high pressure job.

Yes, they are well paid. Fawned over and mollycoddled but every move and decision a player makes on the pitch, and very often off it, is scrutinised in minute detail by hundreds of thousands of people.

It’s little surprise then a study released last week by FIFPro, the International Federation of Professional Footballers, found footballers’ rates of anxiety and/or depression are higher than the general population and other elite athletes. No matter if they’re still playing or have retired.

Watford captain Troy Deeney’s personal battles off the field have been documented. The striker openly admits to seeing a psychiatrist and says it is the best thing for him.

Of course every player is different. But should more be done to improve the mental health of footballers? It was a question posed to Deeney by the Watford Observer prior to the Hornets’ game against Bournemouth.

He said: “Possibly. Knowing what I know now I would’ve seen a psychiatrist many years ago because I think that would’ve helped me in a lot of situations.

“But players have to be ready because you can’t force somebody to talk to someone else. If you put pressure on somebody to do that they’re more likely to go against it.

“Obviously I was in a place where I was drinking a lot, fighting and ended up in jail. For me it got to the point where I needed to do something.

“That was the route I thought I should take because I don’t like putting pressure on my family and friends. I thought it would work. Thankfully it has.”

A total of 607 current footballers and 219 retired players from across the world took part in FIFPro’s study which was led by their chief medical officer Vincent Gouttebarge and Professor Gino Kerkhoffs, both of whom work at the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam.

Their research revealed that: 38 per cent of current players reported suffering from symptoms of depression and/or anxiety; 23 per cent had sleeping disturbance; 15 per cent suffered from distress and nine per cent admitted to adverse alcohol use. Bar the first category the percentages were higher among former players.

Thousands count footballers as role models. They’re expected to perform every week and take considerable flak if they fail.

Many also find it impossible to detach what happens on the field from their home life. Fortunately Deeney isn’t one of them. He wants to win but has a healthy attitude. Football is his job. Once a game finishes his work is done.

“It (seeing a psychiatrist) isn’t about football so much,” he said. “There is mental pressure in terms of the crowds and expectation and that can be part of it. But it was more about dealing with loss and grieving for the family I’d lost.

“I’m not the sort of person who cries. That would mean things built up into anger. When that happened I’d lose my head. The best thing for me was to speak to someone else. Someone who can give me impartial advice. It’s been really helpful.”