All Whites star captain Chris Wood has opened up about the frustrations of overcoming a knee injury ahead of the FIFA World Cup in June.
Fans of the Kiwi football team are sweating on the 34-year-old's return after being sidelined since mid-October.
In late December, the striker for Nottingham Forest confirmed the setback in a social media post shared from his hospital bed.
"The Christmas I didn't expect, you can never know what football throws at you," Wood wrote at the time.
"From the highs of last season to now the battles and the lows personally of this season. You have to be ready for anything.
"Truly gutting and frustrating that I'll be on the sideline for another period of time. It's what's needed to come back stronger and better to help my teammates do the job needed in the Premier League and in Europe."
The Nottingham Forest and All Whites striker is in a race against time to be fit for the World Cup. (Source: Breakfast)
The football star said the recovery process was "not a nice time".
"The easiest thing to say would be 'it's part and parcel of football', but it's been frustrating," Wood said.
"The manner of the injury has not been perfect because we've tried different things, had setbacks, having to go down different routes with surgery and things like that. It's not been smooth sailing."
Wood will miss the All Whites' FIFA Series in Auckland next month.
But there is some positive news with his recovery.
"It's getting better day by day, which is great. Had some positive news yesterday from the surgeon to say I can get on to the next stages and things like that, so it's better for my rehab now," he said.
"I'm thinking that I need to work hard to be able to get myself back and fit, ready for the end of the season."
Wood was celebrated over the weekend after winning the inaugural Pride of New Zealand Award at a glitzy dinner in London.
The All White was sporting a protective brace for his left knee over his black tie outfit.
The All Whites will face Finland on March 27, followed by Chile on March 30.
All New Zealand games at the FIFA World Cup will be available to watch live and free from home on TVNZ+ and TVNZ1.
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