Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will not rush his return from injury as he continues to recover from his latest setback.
Wilshere, 23, has not played for Arsenal this season after suffering a fractured fibula on the final day of preseason but is pencilled in to make his comeback ahead of the Christmas programme of games.
The England international managed only nine Premier League starts last season as he missed six months of the campaign.
He looked to be getting back to his best at the end of the season as the Gunners won the FA Cup and he earned a recall into the England squad, but now he will have to start again.
"It's going well," he told Arsenal's official website about his recovery. "I'm working as hard as I can to try to come back. I know what it takes because unfortunately I've been injured a few times in my career and I know what it takes to come back.
"I'm not going to rush it. I'll make sure my body's right and at the moment I'm feeling good.
"Mentally this one has been the toughest to take because I had a big injury last year, came back, got myself fit, back in good form, played for England. Then I cut my holiday short for two weeks and came in to try to get myself right for this season.
"I thought, 'This season I need to be fit for the whole season and go into the Euros with a whole season behind me.' Unfortunately on the last day of preseason I got injured so it was probably the toughest one for me to take.
"We all know it's difficult and just being around other people helps. At the moment it's me, Danny [Welbeck] and Tomas [Rosicky] because we're the only ones with long-term injuries. Just being around other people, speaking to them and having a bit of banter with them helps as well.
"We're still early in the season and the busiest part of the season is coming up. I want to be part of this team and I proved last season that I can get back and fight for a place. I know it's not going to be easy but that's what I want to do."