Chester FC's forgotten man Luke George admits this has been the most testing season of his career.
Frustrated and disappointed he has been unable to show fans his best form on a consistent basis and help his team-mates turn things around, the midfielder has been restricted to 22 appearances.
George damaged his toe early in the campaign but played on until pulling his thigh muscle against Forest Green Rovers on September 5.
That kept him out for 11 games and although he returned on October 31 and featured 15 of the next 16, the 23-year-old effectively had to start his season again and did not look quite the same force.
George then suffered a torn hamstring at the end of January and has been forced to watch the last seven games from the sidelines.
"This has probably been the most frustrating time I have had in football," said George, now back in full training.
"I've never experienced anything like this before. I was at Southport for two seasons and played more than 80 games and the only ones I missed with through suspension and before that at Stafford Rangers it was the same.
"It's been difficult but it's a learning curve. I look after myself on and off the pitch but it's one of those things that seems to happen to everyone at some point in their career.
"I look at the games I've missed and I've missed some massive games: Wrexham home and away, Tranmere home and away and Southport away which would have been a big one for me.
"There have been times when I've been down about it but the gaffer, Macca, Kath (Hopwood, physiotherapist) and the lads I'm close to in the squad have picked me up.
"I went out with the physio on Tuesday and did some good sprint work so I joined in the last half-hour of training with no reaction.
"The plan is to do a full session with the lads on Thursday and hopefully there'll be no reaction again and then we can see where I am.
"I've been out for six weeks so one session might not be enough for Saturday and certainly not for Saturday and Monday but there's a chance I could have some part in Monday's game and if not then I'll get a full week of training and be ready for next week.
"It was a completely new injury and a grade two tear which is four to six weeks and I'm approaching six weeks. It's been frustrating being out for so long but I'm almost over the final hurdle now."
George moved to Chester in the summer after two successful seasons at Southport and the Blues beat off competition from rival clubs for his signature.
Together with Ross Hannah he was seen as someone who could help move the club onto the next level following an encouraging 12th placed finish in 2014-15.
While there have been occasional flashes from the team to support those pre-season hopes, the campaign has on the whole been a let-down.
With eight games remaining, the Blues are not safe from relegation and George wants to end a disappointing season for both him and the club on a positive note.
"I want to finish the season as strongly as I can and hopefully I will be involved in the last five, six or seven games and help the team," said the Liverpudlian.
"These next couple of games are massive because Barrow and Guiseley are teams in and around us and if you look at the other fixtures a lot of the teams towards the bottom are playing each other.
"Southport have got Guiseley and Halifax have got Altrincham and then Altrincham go to Southport so if we do what we need do and results go our way then it could all be done and dusted after Monday.
"I always think you should look at things positively and if we could get six points that would put us on 49 and that should be enough.
"I've looked at things this season and it's hard to see exactly what's been missing. There's no question about the effort or attitude of the squad and everyone is behind the gaffer and Macca but it has been disappointing.
"I think the Aldershot and Tranmere games summed up our season. If you were a neutral watching us against Aldershot you wouldn't believe we are where we are in the table because to score eight goals against anyone is no mean feat but the game before that against Tranmere it was a bit of a nothing performance.
"What we haven't done is put a run of six or seven results together and that's probably one the reasons we are where we are. Wrexham have kept six clean-sheets and turned their season around and even Southport won six or seven games in a row and now their form has dropped again so if it wasn't for that they would probably be down already.
"For whatever reason we've not been able to do that. There have been one or two good performances here and there but in this division you need more than that."
