Injured Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has admitted that he misses first-team action, but revealed that he is closing in on a return.
The Germany ace has been sidelined since October after picking up a knee injury in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.
However, the 26-year-old was photographed attending training last week, and Ozil says that he is now champing at the bit over returning to the fold.
"I am working every day to get myself fit and I am on the right path now. It won't be much too much longer before I am back on the pitch," he told the club's website.
"I hope to be back training with the whole team again as soon as possible.
"After a time, you really miss playing football. You miss the ball and just want to play. When you watch the games and think that you could have been playing, and playing well, it makes you miss it, but that's the way things are."
The former Real Madrid midfielder is not expected back until January.