LUCAS LEIVA has vowed to take the positives from a “very hard” 2012 as he looks to a more prosperous New Year with Liverpool FC.

Lucas has missed much of the calendar year, first with his recovery from knee ligament damage and then sidelined by a serious thigh injury sustained just four games into his comeback.

The Brazilian returned to full fitness last month and has swiftly helped Liverpool move nearer the scrap for Champions League places.

But the 25-year-old admits there were dark days during his lengthy rehabilitation and has vowed to learn from the experience.

“2012 has been a very hard year for me but I always try to look at it the other way and think maybe it was a learning process for me as well in many ways,” said Lucas.

“I hope this bad year I have had will help me in the future. It has been a difficult year but I’m playing again now and that is a positive end to the year for me.

“I had some very bad moments. People think Lucas is very strong but I really had some very difficult moments.

“Sometimes you have no choice and you can choose to be down or try to get on with it and work hard to get back. If you stay always complaining it doesn’t help you.

“There are days when you just want to disappear but I’m back now and I’m very happy, and hopefully I can have a good run now until the end of the season and hopefully be successful with Liverpool.”