Chelsea star Fran Kirby has revealed she nearly quit football after a health scare.

The England striker was diagnosed with pericarditis in November last year and has not played since.

The condition is an inflammation of a sac-like tissue that surrounds the heart.

And the 26 year-old told former Lioness and Arsenal defender Alex Scott on Instagram: “I remember having numerous conversations and thinking 'I can't do this any more'.

“That's changed in the last few weeks, obviously, because I'm feeling better. But I've probably nearly called [Chelsea boss] Emma Hayes and [England manager] Phil Neville so many times to say 'I'm done'."

And even though she hasn’t played for several months she believes she is in a 'better place' now and has remained optimistic for the future.

“I've managed to do a few sessions of training. But then I've also done something and had a setback. Everything I do has to be symptom-free.

“Stepping away from it (football) has changed my perspective and that there's so much more to worry about than giving the ball away in a game of football," she added.