NaVorro Bowman: 'I'm slowly getting back to my best'

San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman has admitted that he is not quite back to his best ahead of the 2015 season.

The 27-year-old missed the 2014 campaign after sustaining a devastating knee injury in the 2013 NFC championship game.

However, Bowman has made strides in his recovery in the off-season as he prepares to play for the first time in over 18 months, but has conceded that it may take time to rediscover his prime form.

"Not yet, but I'm satisfied with how much work I've put in and how far I've come," Bowman told reporters.

"I've kind of hit the hurdles out here in practice, but, of course, games are different. I've been pushing myself.

"I'll get out there when I'm ready and when I feel that it's time to go. I don't want to just go out there for two or three plays. I want to really get out there and do something. So I'll decide what game that is and go from there."

Bowman has been named an All-Pro three times in his five-year career.