Fiorentina forward Giuseppe Rossi says he will not rush his return from his latest knee surgery.
Rossi has been sidelined since undergoing a fourth operation on his troublesome right knee at the beginning of September.
On Thursday, the American-born forward said, "I have to respect all the timetables, without being in a hurry. We are working every day, we're nearly there, but I will return the day my knee tells me so.
"I really want to bring joy to the Fiorentina fans, because they deserve it.
"They've always supported me, even when I've not been playing. I've suffered various injuries, but always come out stronger thanks to my family."
Rossi tore his right anterior cruciate ligament during a game for Villarreal against Real Madrid in October 2011 and needed three operations before returning in May 2013 with Fiorentina.
He also missed four months of last season with a sprained ligament, and the striker was left out of Italy's World Cup squad because of that injury.
But the 28-year-old said a return to the Azzurri remains on his radar
"Italy? The national team is always a goal for me," he said.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.