Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Jeremy Menez has shared details of a painful rehabilitation from back surgery during the summer as he closes in on a first-team return.
Menez played through the pain barrier towards the end of last season with a herniated disc in his back, as PSG claimed their first title in 19 years.
After having an operation to mend the problem in May, the French international has insisted that he is highly motivated to win his place back for PSG under new manager Laurent Blanc.
He told Ligue 1's official website: "Not being able to take the field was pretty tough for me. But it was for my own good; it has made me stronger and given me extra motivation to work hard every day.
"I had to stay at home a lot, in bed most of the time, but after a fortnight I began to work.
"I did work in the pool and work on my coordination, progressing each week with workouts on the treadmill and then on the pitch. It was really a case of slowly but surely, one step at a time."
The 26-year-old has resumed full training and is aiming to enter Blanc's plans for PSG's next match in Ligue 1, which is against Bordeaux.
Liam Power
