Chelsea fullback Jose Bosingwa admits last season's knee problems had him fearing for his career.
Bosingwa was told he would return to fitness by the new year but the longer he spent on the sidelines, the more concerned he became.
He told the London Evening Standard: "At the time I tried to keep positive and not think it could affect my career. I kept telling myself, 'I will come back, I will come back.' I didn't think I would be out as long as a year. I initially thought three or four months and a year was a long time to be injured. It was difficult.
"When it got to four-five months I was starting to worry. It happens to every player when you can't train or play games, it is difficult. Mentally it was hard. I went to the training ground every day and saw my friends training to play and I couldn't do what I loved with them, which is to play football.
"My knee was also on my mind when I first came back to the team. After one year it is hard to forget the injury. Last season was difficult for me because of that.
"But I am fully over the injury now. I don't feel pain and I am confident when I am playing. I believe in my knee and when I play I don't think about what happened. I am happy I can help the team.
"The most important thing is the present and the future now. I am not hungrier than I was before, I just want to enjoy my football. I want to enjoy this moment."
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