Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has admitted he questioned his captaincy last season, but told reporters on Thursday any uncertainty is now gone.
Henderson was handed the captain's armband at Anfield following the departure of longtime skipper Steven Gerrard last summer.
The 26-year-old England international suffered through an unsatisfying 2015-16 campaign marked by injuries, causing the former Sunderland man to get "very down" on himself at times.
"I've never felt that I didn't want the captaincy but there were times last season when I was very down because I wasn't playing and I questioned my contribution as captain because of that," Henderson told reporters.
"I couldn't help on the pitch as I wanted to and so Milly [James Milner], as vice-captain, had to take the role on.
"It was a very difficult time and I was down. There were a lot of things going through my head and though there was never a time when I didn't want the captaincy or doubted whether I was the right man for it, there were times when it was hard to feel like the captain because I wasn't contributing on the pitch.
"I feel as though I've come through that now."
Despite transfer rumours this summer, Henderson has bounced back in the current campaign, playing every minute for Liverpool thus far.
He credits manager Jurgen Klopp's faith in him for the turnaround, and is aiming to repay the German with stronger performances.
"I have a good relationship with the manager and what he was saying to me was the total opposite to what other people were saying and writing," Henderson said.
"He knew what was going on. I still don't think he has seen the best of me yet, which I'm quite excited about."