Queens Park Rangers keeper Robert Green has admitted that he found life "difficult" at the club following the arrival of Julio Cesar.
The England international moved to Loftus Road on a free transfer last summer but immediately was displaced as the club's number one keeper when Cesar arrived from Inter Milan.
Green managed just 14 appearances last season although he did play in Harry Redknapp's side's last five league games of the campaign.
"Not playing is not something I have had to deal with for the best part of 15 years. I've used that as a motivation and a tool for working hard and keeping going," he told the club's official website.
"It has been a big aid to my season in something that has been very difficult. I have gone from playing every week in a team that won promotion and then going to European Championships to then sat watching one."
QPR were relegated to the Championship last season and finished bottom of the Premier League table.
