Following his first week of full training after an injury lay-off, we caught up with Vale midfielder George Byers to discuss his recovery, as he nears a return to first-team action.
Scroll down to read quotes from the interview in full, or watch now over on PVTV:
George, firstly, how are you? There's light at the end of the tunnel in terms of your recovery, how does that feel for George Byers the footballer?
"I'm feeling good at the moment. It's been a bit of a journey since the start of the season; a few setbacks, which hasn't been great, but this is my first week back fully training so I'm just looking forward to the next couple of weeks."
It's fair to say there has been some frustration that you haven't been playing, but no-one will have felt more frustrated than you...
"Putting it lightly, it's probably been a bit of a disaster of a start to the season, to be honest. I'd got into a groove of playing three or four games and feeling really good and then [suffered] a really unfortunate injury. I literally got knocked off balance, my knee jolted back and I found out I'd fractured it, so it was really unfortunate. It was a tough one to take because, as I say, I'd just got into the groove of playing and feeling really good. I was playing well and the team was doing well, so it was a bit of a sucker-punch, to be fair. Then, a long nine weeks out. When you're out for that long and just getting back on the [training] pitch, I probably pushed myself a bit too far and came back a little bit too early. That's just me being eager to get back on the pitch and help the team. Unfortunately, I had a little setback, but I've recovered from that now. I'm really happy to be back with the lads now; hopefully I can put the injuries behind me and really push on."
In terms of this weekend, are you hoping to be selected or is it perhaps just too soon in terms of that recovery process?
"It [the game against Newport on Saturday] has just come that little bit too early. That's frustrating but that's how it is; I don't want to come back too early and have another setback, I'd rather have another couple of days' training and look to hopefully be involved for next weekend's game [at Chesterfield]."
How important is that, to listen to your body and the advice of those around you, because you've got to protect yourself in the long term as opposed to damaging yourself and therefore the team?
"It's tough because I just want to play football at the end of the day and I'm not a happy man when I'm not playing. This time, I'm just taking that extra couple of days so that I don't push myself too far. I am pushing myself to the limits; I want to get back and I'm feeling really good. I've had some long, hard weeks in the gym and it's been a journey, so I'm hoping it's all behind me now. I'm feeling really positive going into the second half of the season."
People have been asking about you almost on a daily basis since you suffered your injury - is it good to know that so many people are willing you back?
"It's nice that people have good concerns about how I'm doing. It's difficult to give an answer when you've been out and people ask how you're doing. You don't want to say 'I'm nearly there' and then people get a bit more hope and then I'm two or three weeks away, but to have that support around you and [to know] the supporters want you back as well - I want to be playing on that pitch out there. It's been tough watching the lads for so long, but I'm just really excited to get back playing."
How has it been, getting back into training as part of that group and not having to be separate?
"It's been really positive. When I'm back training, it gives me a chance to really get in and amongst the lads on the pitch. When you're injured, it's more so from the changing room side and trying to give the lads as much positive information as you can, using my experience to help [them] through tricky situations, like over the last month or so. We've got a really good group in there that's really together and we've all been pushing each other through this difficult period; the lads had an amazing win away at Doncaster which we needed, and hopefully that can kick us on now."
It's an old cliche, but does it almost feel like you're coming back as a new signing in a way?
"Yeah, I guess so after being out for so long. We've seen Gaz [Ben Garrity] come back and the lift it gave the group; having his presence on the pitch was great because he's worked ever so hard to get back to where he is now. I'm hoping I can have as big an impact as that, so just looking forward to getting back on the pitch and enjoying myself again."
Speaking of Ben Garrity, the gaffer has said of both of you that it's important not just to get you back but also keep you back - is that also how you're approaching it?
"As footballers, I guess sometimes we're our own worst enemy. If someone asks how you feel you might say 'I'm fine' when you might be a bit tired or struggling a bit and find a way to get through it, so it's important I'm honest with myself coming back. If I need a 'down day', I'm taking it to make sure that I'm ready for the games at the weekend because that's the most important thing."
Finally, there's still a long way to go this season and a lot of football to be played. What's your message to the supporters in terms of your ambitions for the second half of the campaign?
"I'm excited to get back out on the pitch and hopefully continuing the form I showed at the start [of the season]. Hopefully, together, we can get to where we want to be, and it's going to take a big effort from everyone - supporters included. They've been great so far this season, so keep up your support and keep driving the lads on, and we'll get there."