Allen battling depression

The Northern Irish potter is the second high profile sportsman to admit to struggling with the disease this month, with England bowler Michael Yardy having recently pulled out of the cricket World Cup for the same reason.

"We all live out of suitcases and, for me, it's just come to a head," Allen told the Irish Mirror.

"I suppose, if I look back on certain things in my career, this has been coming for a long time. But more recently I've really felt more down than I ever have.

"Some days I wake up and I just can't be bothered, I don't have the motivation to do anything.

"It does get very lonely when you're looking at the four walls of a hotel room for most of the year.

"I've been a professional for a few years now and all I've done since then is play snooker, I've known nothing else."

Allen, still only 25, is considered one of the brightest young talents on the snooker circuit; he reached the semi-finals of the World Championships in 2009 and then the quarters in 2010.

Last season alone, he made over £112,000 in prize money.

"If I knew what the problem was then I would have sorted it, but I've been seeing a counsellor to see what the problem is.

"It helps to talk about how I'm feeling because when you're on the road, or at a tournament, you don't really have the chance to tell anyone how you're feeling.

"I'd say I get on with 99 per cent of the other players, but to be honest everyone has their own routines and being a snooker player is a very lonely life."