Joe Ledley has revealed how early morning trips to an oxygen chamber saved his Euro 2016 dream.
Ledley suffered a fractured leg playing for Crystal Palace on May 7 and admitted he shed a tear when he felt his hopes of playing in France were over.
But Ledley made a remarkable recovery to play for Wales just five weeks later, coming off the bench in the 2-1 victory over Slovakia and starting the move which led to Hal Robson-Kanu's winner.
"Everything I had to do, supplements, whatever I could do to make my body better I've done," said Ledley.
"Obviously positive thinking helped and I used an oxygen chamber.
"I left my house at 6 a.m. to be there for 7 a.m. for an hour and 45 minutes, for two weeks.
"Then it was on to the training ground to start the work, then back home, recover and use machines, it was non-stop.
"I used an Exogen machine, which create the bones cells quicker, at night just for 20 minutes.
"By the time I got through that door it was time for bed."
Ledley said he was devastated when an X-ray revealed the true nature of the injury, believing he had suffered a calf injury at first.
"I thought that was game over as it was only three weeks before the squad was going to be named," said Ledley.
"I did shed a tear because I have worked my socks off and been in every single qualification game when available.
"I wanted to be part of the history of making that squad after making the first tournament for 50-odd years.
"It was hard to get my head around it, but I tried everything I could to get into that team and it has paid off."
Ledley is now in contention to start against England in Lens on Thursday.
But he admits that 90 minutes may be beyond him at this stage of his recovery.
"I wrote off the first game against Slovakia as I didn't think I was going to make that," Ledley said.
"But I managed to get 20 minutes and it was like playing football in school again.
"I was excited to be out there and emotional.
"Everything was going through my head and then I had to be out there and play football again.
"To start passing the ball and playing with the team again, it was one of the best feelings ever -- so hopefully I will be in the starting line-up against England."