THE health of Paul Gascoigne has been at the forefront of footballing news in the past week as one of the game’s greats struggles to fight his demons with alcohol.

Like everyone who loves the game, I find it awful to see Gazza in such a bad way. He was one of the footballing icons for those of my generation who grew up in the era of Italia ’90.

Arguably one of the most talented footballers England has ever produced who rose to the challenges on the pitch to make some of the best players in the world look foolish – his trickery to mesmerise Dutch hero Ronald Koeman in that World Cup 23 years ago a stand-out memory.

Now the 45-year-old faces the biggest challenge of his life away from the pitch.

Everyone prays he can win the battle with the help of treatment in America but I hope it does not turn into the sort of media circus that surrounded the Geordie lad in that post-1990 hysteria.

Naturally, someone with such esteem in the public’s eyes will never be far away from the spotlight and, in some respects, it is important that Gascoigne’s plight is highlighted – particularly after everyone witnessed the demise of George Best through a similar addiction to the bottle.

But rather than celebrity friends like Chris Evans and Bolton-born former cricketer Ronnie Irani funding treatment for their friend, could football’s authorities do more to help?

The PFA do a lot of work in educating footballers as to the perils of addiction away from the game but it concerns me that lesser-known personalities won’t be afforded huge support.

In recent years we have seen players out of the limelight face battles off the field. I read an interesting piece last year with former Norwich striker Darren Eadie on the struggles he faced with depression after a career-ending injury at the age of 28.

There have been others not so fortunate going back further with former Manchester City defender Tommy Caton taking his own life and ex-Manchester United man Alan Davies doing likewise. More recently, there was speculation over the state of mind Gary Speed was in at the time of his tragic death.

For all the riches and glory football brings, the come down for some is more difficult than the rise to the top.

Ultimately, Gascoigne needs to help himself first or else it will be other people’s tears that flow this time, rather than his.