Arsenal's injury-prone winger Tomas Rosicky has revealed that he hopes to be back from a seemingly endless absence this autumn.
The 28-year-old has not been seen on a football pitch for more than a year, but he is determined to put his career back together after undergoing several knee operations.
The former Borussia Dortmund star, dubbed 'Little Mozart', has ensured that he will do all he can to earn a new contract.
“Now everything is good,” Rosicky told Czech media Sport. “I did fully train with the squad two weeks before the end of the season and everything went fine, even if there’s a long way to go.
“I am currently in the Czech Republic and I hope I’ll bounce back." He added: “I am missing the competition. I am looking forward to the start of next season.
“My endurance tests are even better than when I signed with Arsenal. I was worried when I came back in training, but everything is fine.
“Playing alongside Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott makes you feel comfortable and I think that I’ll quickly forget that I’ve been out for a while."
The Czech said about Arsenal’s current squad: “I have no idea whether the coach will strengthen the team this summer, he is the boss and it’s up to him. Andrei Arshavin is a great addition to the team. As far as I’m concerned, I think I’ll be back in the autumn.
“Now that I’ve recovered, I’m a new option for the manager. We have a strong team capable of moving mountains in all competitions.”
The attacker has confessed that Arsene Wenger grew frustrated by his absence.
“Sometimes I understood that he was frustrated, especially when he was told I had to undergo another operation. And then another player got injured in Fabregas. He was not angry, but disappointed.”
Rosicky held contract talks with Wenger, and he understands that his future at Emirates Stadium will depend on his form.
“Me and the coach talk about it, but it’s between me and him. Everything depends on how I’ll be playing. We’ll see, but I’m not worried about it.”