Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo has revealed he thought his career was over following the horrific broken leg he suffered last year.
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But after five operations the former Lazio player is back in training and in line to make a comeback in November.
"I'm confident I can play Premiership football again.
However, it didn't look like that a few months ago," Di Matteo told The Sun.
"I feared the worst when it happened because it was such a bad break.
"I got depressed and down.
I had post-trauma and then complications and just couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel.
"Imagine suddenly not being able to do your job.
I'm used to training and playing day-in, day out.
"It's been painful and frustrating but it makes you stronger."
Di Matteo believes that he will not have a problem in getting back into the Chelsea starting line-up, despite the summer arrivals of Frank Lampard and Emmanuel Petit.
"I don't think getting back into the team will be a problem once I am available," Di Matteo added.
"There aren't many players left who were at Stamford Bridge when I came five years ago.
"But the team spirit is still there — and a good player is a good player."
