JLS star Aston Merrygold has opened up about his recent leg injury, confessing the psychological impact is "killing me".

The Peterborough-born boyband member, 38, had an operation late last year following a distressing ankle injury sustained during rehearsals.

Nevertheless, Aston has carried on performing with the group, which also features Marvin Humes, Oritsé Williams, and JB Gill, either sitting down or relying on crutches.

In a conversation with Simon Rimmer and Tim Lovejoy on today's (22nd February) instalment of Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, Aston provided further details about his injury and rehabilitation.

"I broke everything in my ankle, apart from the bone," he revealed. "So, I'm still here.", reports the Mirror.

"Basically, jumping off a platform to end the show, I vanished through the stage and landed on some crash mats. Obviously, I got excited and probably jumped a bit too high, trapped my leg between the crash mats and my body kept going.

"So I had to have full ankle reconstruction surgery."

Tim joked: "Got a team of lawyers on that?", drawing laughter from Aston.

After disclosing he had pressed on with the tour using crutches, Aston was questioned about his background playing football and how his injury has impacted his fitness routine.

"You used to be a good footballer years ago, didn't you?" Tim enquired. "So this must be killing you."

Aston concurred: "It's killing me. But everything, even in the week, going away with the kids for a few days is lovely."

Tim interjected, "Can you do anything?" to which Aston admitted: "I can't run yet. So that's kind of the extent of it. Stairs are good now, for the ankle progression."

The host then reflected: "You know what they say, and this is so true, a well man has 10,000 wishes and an ill man has one.

"100 percent," Aston concurred. "And the worst, worst part of the whole thing was that I had to be bed-bound at one point.

"Then, when I could stand up, it had to be no weight. So no picking up the kids, no kind of running around.

"Obviously I didn't listen," he subsequently confessed. "You can't have those special moments just taken away fully, so I was a bit like, 'No, there are some things...'"

Simon then enquired about when Aston will be completely recovered, with the JLS star clarifying: "The operation was in December. December 5th. And he said over six months."

Sunday Brunch airs Sundays from 10am on Channel 4.

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source.** Click here to activate**** or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.**