Dominic Calvert-Lewin has opened up on his battle back from injury for Everton and explained what was "soul-destroying" about his latest issues.
The striker missed around four months of the current campaign with a quadriceps injury, having carried a toe problem into the beginning of the season - despite scoring in each of his first three matches of 2021/22.
The England international is yet to find the back of the net on his return to the side, but its still working his way back to being match-sharp.
And Calvert-Lewin has opened up on his road to recovery, including an appearance on Monday Night Football in early November.
He doesn't want that to be taken in the wrong manner, however - explaining how hard he worked during his time off to get himself back on the pitch.
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He told evertonfc.com : "I had to dig deep and I learned a lot about myself.
"I made me appreciate being fit and my love for football and the atmosphere in games… To have that taken away, it was difficult at times.
"I did a few appearances like Monday Night Football [on Sky Sports] and people can misinterpret that for not putting the work in.
"I was doing two treatment sessions every day. It’s harder being injured than when you’re playing and you’re trying to push your body every day to get back to being fully fit.
"It was a very tough time for a number of months. I now know the amount of mental strength it takes from people who have been out for a long amount of time. I feel I can only become stronger from that.
"On a personal note, it’s good for me to have got through 90 minutes against Southampton.
"But the result was the most important thing, and we were very disappointed with that – and I’d like to apologise to the fans who made the long trip down there.
"We know how disappointed they will be and all I can say is we will work hard to put that right."
Calvert-Lewin returned to the Everton side in the new year, but described how difficult it was for him to suffer setbacks in his injury recovery.
The striker is ready to put that frustrating spell behind him, however, and he knows that the goals will start to come if he works in the right manner.
"To re-injure the same leg three times, it was soul-destroying at points, and it takes you to the depths of a mental battle," he added.
"It’s difficult seeing the boys play and you feel so far away. I’d feel close to coming back and then I was sidelined again.
"You have to dig deep and show courage and character. I feel I’m now a stronger person and a stronger player and off the back of that I’ll return to a top level.
"I’ve been training consistently for a couple of weeks. Now, I feel physically a lot better and much more confident in my body.
"I hold high standards for myself and when you’re not quite at that level that you expect, it can become frustrating.
"I’m trying not to get too frustrated with myself. The fitness and sharpness will come and I just need to keep getting in the right areas, doing the work, and I’m sure the goals will follow."
Calvert-Lewin is still waiting for his fourth goal of the season.
However, he can't wait to have the feeling of celebrating in front of the fans once more.
"It’s the feeling I’ve missed the most,” he said. “It’s the feeling I thought about when I was out injured for so long.
"That elation, there’s nothing like it.
"I was looking at the away fans at Southampton and it was packed out. I was dreaming of scoring and wheeling off celebrating.
"I know that moment will come and it will become more frequent. It’s a case of holding onto that [belief] and doing the right things, plugging away, and hitting the back of the net."
