 However, he left Gigg Lane for personal reasons before the 2016–17 season began in August.He later revealed that he had been fighting a four-year battle with depression.Kirkland won eight caps with the England national under-21 team and was regularly selected for the senior squad from 2003 onwards, but did not make an appearance until he came on as a substitute for the second half of a friendly against Greece in August 2006.