Julien Faubert has revealed that he has his wife Pamela to thank for rediscovering his best form.
The West Ham United right-back told the official matchday programme how Pamela took it upon herself to help him get back to full fitness ahead of the current campaign.
Having struggled for form and fitness last term, the Frenchman spent the second half of the season on loan at Spanish giants Real Madrid, where he made just two appearances in six months.
Pamela noticed how the experience of not playing regularly had left her husband feeling down and took matters into her own hands, booking him into an intensive, week-long fitness course in the Italian Alpine resort of Merano.
"My wife told me 'When you are running on the pitch, you are not like you are in Bordeaux, so you have to do something'," said the 26-year-old. "I agreed and she booked me a week at Merano, where we went and I did some fitness work.
"She told me she was convinced I could play for West Ham and enjoy playing in the Premier League, then she went off and booked everything, including the fitness programme. I lost five or six kilos and came back and had a good pre-season and it has worked out."
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Faubert began the season in superb form, being voted as SBOBET Player of the Month for August by the club's supporters.
The former AS Cannes and FC Girondins de Bordeaux player has missed just three matches this term, impressing in the Hammers' recent run of three clean sheets in their last five Barclays Premier League games.
In an interview for Saturday's matchday programme for the visit of Hull City, Faubert also talks about his move from the right wing to right-back, as well as his improved understanding on the pitch with centre-backs Matthew Upson and James Tomkins.
Faubert, who lost his mother Elisabeth following a long illness on 28 January, also speaks warmly about her role in helping him to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer during his formative years in the French city of Le Havre.
The full-back discusses his loan spell at Read Madrid, his conversion to the Islamic faith and also looks back on his time at West Ham ahead of what will be his 50th league appearance for the club.
Saturday's official matchday programme will be available in and around the Boleyn Ground, priced £3.50. Alternatively, to order your copy online, click here.