By Adam Shergold for MailOnline
Published: 11:31 GMT, 21 March 2019 | Updated: 11:35 GMT, 21 March 2019
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Sergio Canales has revealed how a fishbone tattoo has come to symbolise the resurrection of his international career with Spain following three cruciate ligament ruptures.
The Real Betis attacking midfielder, 28, admitted he had given up on ever playing for his country as he endured a series of frustrating spells on the sidelines.
And left with an unsightly scar on his knee following surgery, Canales decided to disguise it with a fish skeleton tattoo.
The fishbone tattoo covering a knee ligament surgery scar as shown by Spain playmaker Sergio Canales after he was called up to the national squad for the first time
Canales, who has ruptured his cruciate knee ligament three times, has been picked for Spain on the strength of his Real Betis form this season
A picture of it featured on the front cover of Spanish newspaper Marca on Thursday as Spain prepare to open their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign against Norway on Saturday night.
And former Real Madrid playmaker Canales said: 'I stopped thinking about the national team.
'I always had the belief that I could reach the top, but there were moments where I felt that was no longer a priority.
'I simply had it in my mind to recover and then play well, to build my consistency and play at a high level, but I've surpassed all my expectations.'
Canales revealed the scar tattoo after receiving his first Spain call-up for their opening
