Everton striker Arouna Kone has admitted he is still struggling with pain from a knee injury he suffered almost a year ago.
The 30-year-old has not played since sustaining the injury, which required surgery, last October.
Kone has yet to make a Premier League start since arriving at Goodison Park from Wigan in June 2013.
He is getting closer to a comeback, having featured for Everton's Under-21 side as an overage player this season, and was an unused substitute for the 3-0 Capital One Cup defeat at Swansea on Sep. 23.
But the Ivory Coast international acknowledges that the injury has not fully healed.
He told Everton's website: "It has been a really trying time.
"The worst thing has been the uncertainty about the injury and never quite knowing when I would be able to come back.
"You continue training and working hard but in the back of your mind, you don't know when you are going to be fully recovered.
"In a way, it's worse than something like a break or a ligament injury where you know you have a finite time where you can assess the period of recovery. At least you have a date to aim for.
"I would say I am at 70 percent now in terms of the pain I am still feeling. I have got a slight twinge of pain from the injury.
"In terms of physical fitness, I would say I am nearer 80 percent. It's okay because you can control the pain when you are taking part in training sessions. The plays that you take part in and the actions in a session are different compared to a match.
"I still have to have conversations with the medical staff and the manager to find the opportune moment to make my comeback."
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Kone's five league appearances for the Toffees have all been as a substitute, with his only start coming in a Capital One Cup victory against Stevenage seven weeks after his arrival.
And he is keen to make his return to action as soon as possible.
He added: "I can't stress enough how really keen I am to be back playing. I am desperate to regain full fitness and be back out on the field.
"I felt great after having those opportunities with the Under-21s and then to be on the bench against Swansea in the cup.
"Although I didn't play it was nice to be part of things again. It gives you that extra encouragement to continue working towards coming back."