The former Aberdeen, Hamilton Accies and Scotland defender has faced his own battles

They are comments that have been widely condemned - but James McClean has certainly sparked a conversation about football and mental health.

The Derry City player stated that he would not use therapy "as a man I would see that as a weakness" while promoting his autobiography. The comments have been widely condemned - with McLean's own wife Erin among those to distance herself from his statement.

And it's exactly that kind of stigma that Michael Devlin is trying to tackle within the Scottish game. The towering defender battled with injuries throughout his career, but dark clouds began to form for Devlin during his time at Aberdeen and he went on to seek help.

The Scotland cap concedes there is still a "macho, bravado mask worn by players" who are struggling - but acknowledges former Ireland international McLean is entitled to his own view. However, having used therapy to his own benefit he reckons that no one should be discouraging from accessing the support: “James is entitled to view that and treat it as he sees fit.

"From my own experience, as someone who has used therapy and used counselling throughout the course of some of my challenges and has really, really found the benefit of it, it’s not something that I would discourage anyone from doing.

"It’s a resource, it’s a tool, like many other ways of trying to understand and deal with any mental struggles that any individual is having. I think it can be hugely beneficial, and it has been hugely beneficial - not just for me, but for many, many people.

"I think that we should explore the use of all tools available. I think with something, in my opinion, that is already quite a stigmatised subject - more so in football, rather than wider society, despite needing to do in wider society on this.

"In football, in particular on the male side of the game, it’s still a kind of macho, bravado mask worn by players - I think we need to take that down and create an environment where players feel safe to express how they feel. Even in the simplest form, a safe environment for everybody - no matter what you do - is most likely going to create an environment where people can thrive and be successful.

"From a well-being perspective, they have to realise the correlation between the two and that’s the responsibility of all stakeholders involved in the game. We want to have constructive and productive, and most importantly positive conversations about people who seek help. We want to break down the stigma of asking for help, and not see it as a weakness. That is the experience I have had in accessing that support.”

Aged 27, Devlin was firmly in Steve Clarke's Scotland plans and a regular at the heart of the Pittodrie backline, before a series of injuries and subsequent surgeries derailed his progress.

It was during that time, he noticed a change in himself as he shape-shifted to fit into the dressing room while privately isolating himself.

He said: “Injuries were probably the catalyst. I think being limited time and time again from what I wanted to do, which is play football, and dealing with the disappointment or set back after set back eventually takes its toll. I noticed a change in myself.

"I noticed a lot of isolation and social withdrawal. A lot of mask-wearing, and trying to be the version of myself that I thought other people needed me to be in a changing room environment - being big, positive, a character, laughy and jokey, a good influence - all the rest of it.

"It wasn’t reflected, I was struggling massively. A lot of time alone in the gym, a lot of surgeries latterly at Aberdeen. That over a course of time changed who I was, and I felt was robbing me of my hope and optimism, and reset my baseline.

"I felt I had to start to predict the worst case scenario, and I think that puts you into survival mode. That was a daily occurrence for me, and led to me becoming very distant from people in my life. A real lack of motivation, a real struggle to do day-to-day tasks.

"Trying to face the reality of where you were at, and having conversations with people who want to know about your injury and where you are at - and being sick of talking about it and not really wanting to go there. You kind of become a shapeshifter within that, to try and not give people the impression that you are not coping with it very well.

"That takes its toll over a number of years. I think depression itself is a really difficult thing to articulate for every individual, but for me it was struggling to make sense of what is going on around me. A real disconnect and real disassociation for the things that once brought me happiness didn’t do that anymore.

"I found frustration in everything around me. The only place I felt at peace was at home, I would stay home and try my best not to interact with anybody.”

At the age of 32, Devlin hung up his boots after a career that took in 274 games for Hamilton Accies, Stenhousemuir, Aberdeen, Fleetwood Town, Hibs, Livingston and Ayr United - as well as boasting three caps for his country.

Since then, Devlin has stepped into a new role as Head of Projects with PFA Scotland as he travels across the country with the aim of helping players in the SPFL and SWFL.

He hopes to improve medical care for players across the board and psychological support for footballers - with a clear message to players who feel they need help: “It can get better, and it will get better. Talk about it, reach out for help.

"We have resources, PFA Scotland have Sporting Chance as out well-being partner which you can access at any point, 24/7. Despite how tough the moment is in your life, there is a way through.

"A lot of people the beginning of that is acknowledging yourself, acknowledging change, and seeking support. Often we are not taught the tools to navigate it ourselves. We can try to be brave and courageous and navigate it ourselves, but sometimes we need the support. And there is no shame in that, and in fact it takes a lot of courage and resilience to take that step.”

Sporting Chance offers a 24/7 helpline 07500 000 777 or online referral form can be submitted. A member of the Sporting Chance team will be in touch to get things started.