Diafra Sakho has reached the light at the end of a long tunnel.
West Ham United’s Senegal international striker returned to full first-team training, nearly four months after undergoing surgery to right a longstanding back problem.
Sakho admitted the road to recovery was a bumpy one, physically and mentally, but says he is ready to make an impact over the final weeks of a frustrating season.
“When I arrived in England, I had a back problem which has been troubling me until now,” he confirmed. “I needed a back operation, but I kept saying no. I did finally have one in December and now it's much better.
“I feel I'm ready to play. I've already asked to play before, but I think the medical team wanted to protect me, so that I could do a bit more work in the gym and on the training pitch individually.
“I have now resumed training with the first team and want to play in early April.”
For a player like Sakho, who thrives on being in the thick of the action, whether that be in training or matches, working alone with the Club’s rehabilitation fitness coaching staff was ‘not easy’.
“It's always hard to work on your own because you're less motivated,” he revealed. “It's mental strength that gives you extra desire and when you see your teammates out training, you want to give even more.
“I'm coming to the end of the tunnel, so I think I'm making good progress.”
A committed professional, Sakho put everything into his rehab, spending time in the gym at Rush Green and taking regular yoga classes before returning to the pitch, first on an individual basis, then in controlled sessions with the Under-23s, and finally with the first-team squad.
“My body is my work tool now, so I'm trying to work on everything that is good for my body and who's to say I won't carry on playing for another 10 or 12 years?” he said, positively.
“After training I used to head straight home, but now I devote more time to understanding my body and stretching.
“I think it's a good thing. I used to hate it. I didn't want to do it. African players often head straight home after training and we don't make time to see what our bodies need.
“I think now is a good starting point.”
Sakho has been asking manager Slaven Bilic – a man he has a ‘really good relationship with’ – to be given a chance in the Premier League sooner rather than later.
Bilic and the medical staff are eager that he build up his strength and fitness before he takes on the physical and mental challenge of first-team football again, but the No15 is simply desperate to get back to doing what he loves.
“To be honest, I'm only thinking about playing,” he confirmed. “I want to show the people what I'm capable of. I know that everyone in Senegal or Africa is waiting to see me play every weekend as it will make them happy.
“That's what I know how to do. I don't know how to do anything apart from play football. That's my job. I try to entertain those who watch me play.”