Manchester United captain Harry Maguire says he was in career best form before injury struck last month.
Maguire is fighting to be fit for England at the Euros but is certain to miss the opener against Croatia on June 13.
He was sidelined for United's last five games - including the Europa League final loss to Villarreal - with ankle ligament damage.
Maguire, 28, told The Sun: “Myself and the United team had a really bad start. We did not get a good pre-season and started the season really slowly but we soon improved.
“At the time of the injury, I had been playing the best football of my career.
“I had been really happy with my game for a few months. I was playing with a lot of confidence and belief.
“My fitness levels before the injury were really good. I was playing week in, week out and that had put me in a really good place in terms of my defending and when I had possession.
“I have to remember that feeling when I was playing well and must work hard to be fit and be ready to go again and continue where I left off."
Maguire, who hurt his ankle in the 3-1 win at Aston Villa on May 9, was devastated to miss last week's Europa showdown with Villarreal.
United agonisingly lost 11-10 on penalties after a largely terrible display.
The centre-back said: “Playing in a big European final was what I had dreamed of.
"So to miss the game was really tough and to then not get the result we really wanted made it even worse.
“It was a massive disappointment, not just for myself but for the rest of the lads, the staff, the club in general and the fans.
“We controlled the game for the first 70 minutes and had a lot of crosses across the box but did not really create too much.
"There was only one team who looked as though they would go and win the game. Then in extra-time we ran out of steam and the game petered out.
“We should have applied more pressure in the game to go and try and win and obviously penalties are penalties. You cannot blame anyone for that."