WALES defender Chris Gunter says that "dark days" of isolation when out in the cold at Reading are helping him cope with the coronavirus lockdown.

The 30-year-old from Newport, his country's most-capped male footballer with 96 international appearances, faced an uncertain future last summer.

Former Cardiff, Spurs and Nottingham Forest right-back Gunter was put on the transfer list by the Royals and dropped to the under-23s.

The defender, who is out of contract at the end of this season, profited when manager Jose Gomes was shown the door in October.

New boss Mark Bowen recalled his compatriot and Gunter made 14 appearances until the season was put on hold.

South Wales Argus:

"It was tough and a situation I'd never been in," said Gunter in an Instagram Q&A run by his management company New Era Global Sports. "We had a call in the summer saying that the club wanted us to leave.

"Gareth McCleary and myself were shoved into a different changing room and training every day with the under-23s.

"You can have some dark days really, a little bit like now - isolated from it all, so that's why I am dealing with it so well.

"It was just us two in an old changing room but that was the situation, you have to get through it and you never know in football what is going to happen.

"It can change quickly. We went in and applied ourselves right. The manager left and we were straight back in the mix but it wasn't enjoyable and a shock.

"It was a shame how and why it happened. But you move on, deal with it and come out the other side better for it."

South Wales Argus:

Gunter would have been pushing for selection for Euro 2020 but instead will now try and stay in the international squad for another year after the tournament was postponed.

Ryan Giggs' men will try and repeat the success of four years ago, and hopefully reap the rewards of bonuses negotiated with the Football Association of Wales by Gunter and Real Madrid megastar Gareth Bale.

"It started with me, Ash (Ashley Williams), Gaz and Rambo (Aaron Ramsey) who needed to have a conversation," he said.

"Ash was just sat there, watching the world go by, chilled and relaxed and not getting involved, Rambo the same so it was me and Gaz fighting and arguing on every little point.

"It became us two. We would have meetings and Ash and Rambo would not even turn up, they would say just tell us how it went.

"The FAW are easy to deal with but me and Gaz will fight the corner for the boys if anything needs sorting out.

"To be fair to Gaz, he's fighting over an extra tenner for a win bonus, he doesn't need the win bonuses for Wales so he needs to take the credit.

"He's still fighting for the rest of us who are trying to make some decent money in the game."