Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has admitted that a mountain of injuries are taking their toll on his mental state.
The 23-year-old was ready to face Chelsea in the Community Shield in August before a hairline fracture to his left leg saw him ruled out until December.
The England international has seen most of his young career plagued by injuries, and Wilshere reveals the mental anguish of missing so much football.
"[The recovery is] going well. It's frustrating, of course," he told Sky Sports News.
"I think mentally this one was the toughest to take because I had a good pre-season and it was literally the day before the Charity Shield.
"I was ready, I was fit, I was in the team and I was going to play then all of a sudden a tackle and I was out."
The Gunners sit second in the Premier League table, behind Manchester City on goal difference.