West Ham's Aaron Cresswell is determined not to rush his return to action two months after suffering a knee injury.
The left full-back sustained ligament damage during a pre-season game against Karlsruhe in July, ruling him out for four months.
The injury was a major blow to the 26-year-old, who had missed just one Premier League match over the previous two seasons.
"No matter if it's a couple of weeks or however long it is, it's about getting it right. I'm prepared to put the hard work in and the rewards are at the end of it," Cresswell told West Ham's official website.
"I'm certainly not rushing things and I've seen a specialist and he's happy with the way things are working out and I'm certainly happy.
"Hopefully I can get the knee right and come back fitter and stronger. I went to see the new ground at the back end of last season and straight away, there was a wow factor."
Cresswell missed out on a place in Roy Hodgson's England squad for Euro 2016, but is hopeful of attracting the attention of former boss Sam Allardyce, now in charge of the national side, who signed him for the Hammers from Ipswich in 2014.
"It would be a proud moment for me personally and my family, but first and foremost I want to get myself fit and well and build myself up and get ready for the games," he added. "Hopefully it will happen one day though."