Villarreal defender Mateo Musacchio is nearing a return to playing five months after suffering a horrific leg injury.
Musacchio, 25, fractured his fibula and dislocated his left ankle during a Primera Division game at Getafe on April 12.
The Argentina international has started to train with his teammates this week.
Primeros pasos con el equipo! Ya queda poco ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/EL8L7bzao5
- Mateo Musacchio (@MateoMusacchio5) September 3, 2015
"I'm only thinking of playing and fortunately, I'm close to returning," Musacchio told Marca. "I know I'm on the final phase of recovery and I'm very enthusiastic to train well with the team.
"I'm doing things with the team, warm-ups and other exercises and that makes me feel better. I'm going step by step but I'm happy with how it's going."
Musacchio admits the first serious injury of his career has given him a new perspective as a football player.
"You learn from everything and more so when something bad happens," he said. "I've had a difficult summer break and that is why being able to be with the team now makes me feel better.
"I've had so many messages of support and that is something to be thankful [for] during this ordeal."
Musacchio joined Villarreal from River Plate in 2009 and has since made 153 appearances for the Yellow Submarine's first team.
The central defender is under contract at Villarreal until June 2018 and is eager to make up for lost time.
"I just want to return to be the player I was and even improve on what I've done so far," he said. "Each day I feel better."
Villarreal finished sixth in La Liga in 2014-15 to qualify for the Europa League, and this summer spent a reported €38.2 million on reinforcements.
Former Valencia forward Roberto Soldado was Villarreal's top summer signing, moving in a reported €16m transfer from Tottenham.
Defenders Daniele Bonera and Victor Ruiz are among the nine other new faces to join the club based in the Valencia region.
Bonera arrived on a free transfer from AC Milan, while Ruiz joined from Valencia on a permanent contract.
"In the past few years the team has improved on the defensive end and during preseason that has been the case," Musacchio added. "We shall see if at the end of this season we have a better or worse squad than last year.
"But it's true that we have a lot of quality and very young players, who are hungry to do things well."