After missing the entirety of the Bundesliga season so far, Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Marco Fabian is itching to return to action and propel the Eagles to a successful second half of the campaign.
A knee injury suffered during the summer necessitated an operation, but complications have since led to back and neck problems for the Mexico international, whose last competitive outing came for his country in the FIFA Confederations Cup third-place play-off against Portugal in July 2017.
The Eagles have missed Fabian in his absence, with the side's creativity deficit evident, and head coach Niko Kovac has set an expected return date of early February, although the player himself said during Frankfurt's 1-1 draw with Freiburg on Matchday 18 that he is hopeful of a comeback later this month.
Watch: Click play on the video below to enjoy Fabian's top five Bundesliga goals!
Whenever it happens, it has been a long, arduous road to recovery for one of the Bundesliga's most talented attackers, as the Mexican himself admitted in a recent interview with the club's official website.
"I have had to come through several difficult moments in the last year," Fabian said. "Of course, nobody wants to experience anything like that, but fortunately it's behind me now ... I can't find enough words to thank all the people of Frankfurt who supported me, who made me feel at home.
"I'm happy to be part of this team," Fabian said, before re-affirming his desire to repay the club for the faith they have placed in him. "My head is here ... My mind, my body and my heart are in Frankfurt and so I'll continue to give everything for this team."
Respect to Marco Fabian for collecting money for the victims of the earthquake in his home country #Mexico.