Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack admits his agonising injury battle was the toughest period of his career.
The Ibrox star was sidelined in February 2021 and did not return to the pitch until November.
He missed Rangers' Premiership title-winning run-in and also watched from the sidelines as Scotland competed at Euro 2020.
The 30-year-old says it was a period of "bad news after bad news" but he's now fit and firing again.
Jack is now desperate to play a part after returning to Steve Clarke 's Scotland squad for friendlies against Poland and either Wales or Austria
He told Scotland's in-house media: "There's no doubt it was the toughest time I've had in my career. It was bad news after bad news.
"Obviously, helping playing a part in getting to the Euros and then having to watch at the side...
"Don't get me wrong, I was the games and the boys did very well but it was a tough time.
"But I've always said if you get through those times, if you focus on goals ahead. One of those goals was to get back in this squad and play a part.
"Hopefully, I can play a part in the next two games, get the shirt back on and contribute to a couple of good results."
Jack took to streaming online video gaming with his Rangers team-mates during the lay-off as he sought to keep himself occupied amid a draining rehab schedule.
He said: "It's different ways of keeping you focused. I had long days of gym sessions, bike sessions late in the day.
"Away from that it was about getting ways to refresh my mind, give me a bit of downtime. I had video games with my mates and FaceTime with the family.
"There's all different ways to get through and that (video games) was one way to help me relax.
But the former Aberdeen captain was grateful for a supportive network of family and friends who were eager to keep tabs on his progress.
Jack added: "I wouldn't say anybody did anything in particular, it was more just the support, the basic messages checking in: 'How are you?', 'How are the appointments?', 'How's the surgery been?', 'How are you recovering?'
"All that side of it."
