Yaya Toure has revealed he is ready to end his international exile and play for Ivory Coast again.
Toure, 32, is not in his country's squad for their back-to-back fixtures against Liberia this month.
The Manchester City midfielder has been taking a break from international football after captaining Ivory Coast to victory in February's African Nations Cup final. And he had hinted at international retirement, but has now pledged to resume his career for his country.
"I am not part of the squad list for the games against Liberia, but my heart is with them," he told reporters. "I think the next fixture after this will be in 2016, when the qualification for the 2017 African Nations Cup continues. In any case, I'll be ready."
Toure has scored 19 goals in 100 caps for his country and, after winning the African Footballer of the Year award in each of the last four years, has been shortlisted again.
But he believes his City form has benefited after he has been able to take a rare rest.
"With all due respect to our new coach, Michel Dussuyer, I wanted to have a moment of respite," he added.
"I admit that I was coming back from a long period of intense activity with the Elephants and ended an exhausting season with my club Manchester City. I even had injuries.
"During the off-season I cut short my vacation in Abidjan to return to the club so I could be subject to a rigorous fitness programme. I had to follow it to the letter and had supervision from one-on-one coaches."