George Green hopes his long wait to make his Chester FC debut will be at an end before Christmas.
The 22-year-old has been unable to pull on a blue and white shirt since his summer arrival from National League North rivals Nuneaton Borough, with a lower back injury seeing him forced to watch his new team from the sidelines.
But with rest and rehabilitation, the former Everton starlet has returned to full training with his teammates and has already impressed both staff and players in the brief sessions he has had.
Match fitness will be the key now for Green and Blues bosses Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley are loathe to put him back into the side too soon, with the 1-1 draw at Stockport County at the weekend deemed to early.
But with no game this weekend because of Chester's exit from the FA Trophy, Green has his eye on the home encounter with AFC Telford the following weekend (Saturday, December 22) as a date he could be involved, although he isn't taking anything for granted.
Green said: "I did my first session last Thursday and felt good and felt sharp. I'm lacking a bit of match fitness which should be happening anyway but I'm getting there and hopefully I'll be included soon.
"Realistically we're looking at the Telford game but we'll have to see what happens. Christmas is always a busy period so getting your players back now is good news and a very important thing.
"When you get injured it's a tricky, hard and long path to get back to fitness but I think with the right people behind me, which I've had - the managers, the club, friends and family - it's rewarding now and I just want to get back on the pitch.
"It really is frustrating because all I want to do is play football. I've never had a spell with a long-term injury like now where I've not been able to play, so it has really affected me. But my mind is in the right place and I'm back now."
Having been touted as a future Premier League star back in 2013, with Everton paying Bradford City a £300,000 fee that had the potential to rise to £2million, Green's battles with alcohol and drug addiction as well as depression saw him spiral out of control, with his football career following suit.
The former England Youth international has taken in spells with Tranmere Rovers, Oldham Athletic and Viking Stavanger, among others, before signing for Chester this summer.
His talent is not in doubt, and while Green knows he will have to impress he believes he has what it takes and isn't putting any undue pressure on himself.
He said: "To a certain extent (I want to show what I can do) but taking things nice and easy without the expectation and proving to people what I'm about because I think they already know what I'm about and Bernard and Jonno know what I'm about and getting three points week in, week out, that's the most important thing.
"I know where I stand with Jonno and Bern and I know if I'm fit I'm good enough to get in the team. There is loads more, that was only one session. I'm going to have my ups and downs and they are going to see that.
"I'm a good player, they know I am a good player, I know I am a good player and I just want to bring what I can to the team to help us get promoted this year."
And with Chester sitting fourth in the National League North, that promotion ambition remains on course.
Said Green: "We're sitting in a great position in the league and we've got a few players injured, key players as they would say. We have got the best chance in the world to go up and I strongly believe we will. As long as we keep doing the right things then I think we'll go up."
"There never is (a stand out team). I've played in this league a few times now with Nuneaton, Salford and now Chester and you can't predict it, it's just about who turns up on the day and does well.
"We know what we need to do so I'm not worried and I don't think the squad or gaffers are either."
