Owen Hargreaves has vowed Manchester United fans will see much better from him after claiming he was never more than 60% fit last season.
The midfielder was plagued by a tendinitis problem last term, an injury which resurfaced at the start of this season.
Armed with the knowledge gained from 12 months ago, United's medical staff feel they have got on top of the injury.
And while Sir Alex Ferguson feels next Monday's Barclays Premier League trip to Portsmouth may come too soon for Hargreaves, the 27-year-old is confident than when he does eventually make an appearance he will be around for good.
"There is a lot more to come from me," he said.
"I don't think I played a game healthy last season. I was at about 50 or 60% at best.
"When I had another scan on the knee this summer it had not improved, so I came back early to try to fix it at the beginning of pre-season.
"Hopefully I will be fit pretty soon."
Hargreaves knows he is being missed, especially now midfield colleague Michael Carrick has joined a massive list of absentees.
The former Bayern Munich man is also being forced to sit out England's friendly with the Czech Republic on Wednesday and, quite possibly, the crucial World Cup qualifiers with Andorra and Croatia next month.
However, while he is understandably frustrated at not being able to play any part at present, Hargreaves remains confident everything will turn out fine in the end, just as it did last term as he ended up a Premier League and Champions League winner.
"I am not going to set a timetable but I am close," he said.
"I am working on my fitness every day and while I have not joined in with the lads yet, hopefully it will happen this week.
"Whether I am fit for Portsmouth or the match after that, the most important thing is I am healthy for the rest of the season."
Hargreaves has no doubt he made the right decision in quitting Bayern Munich for United, allowing the Calgary-born star to play in the country he opted to play for.
"I know how much I better I can get being around the players and coaching staff here," he said.
"I have not even come close to fulfilling my potential yet. And, providing I stay healthy, this could be a really big season for me."
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Comment 1 - 5 of 5
2 khan wake up and have your cornflakes u would b nothing without the money
If thats %60 from Hargreaves the rest of the prem will have to watch out, that boy on patroll in front of the awsome foursome down back, thats the last goal conceeded at OT this Year! Good luck Champ we want you out there.
Chelsea are just money, thats all they are and when roman finally gets tired of this game and packs up to go home you will return to the gutter quicker than when you scum got out. You were nothing before and will be nothing again soon, all that will be left is empty seats of what had been and so much debt from the lightening quick player cash out you'll make leeds look good.
GLORYGLORY4UNITED 10PREMS 11FA CUPS & 3EURO CUPS!!!!!
Hargreaves is a cute player. If what he played last season was about 60% of his performance, then, we should see a more interesting football this season. The list of injuries on ManU at the moment is not unlikely; a team that won the EPL and Champions League last season would naturally be prone to injuries, having exposed the players to big matches (esp their match against Roma both at home and away). We hope they recover soon so that we watch yet another amazing football. With ManU meeting Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Liverpool at Anfield both in September, they cannot afford to miss their reliable force - Giggs, C.Ronaldo, Tevez, Carrick, Hargreaves, Anderson and even Rooney that I hear took an injury from last game. I enjoy the game played by the big 4 especially Chelsea and ManU. Keep it up Hargreaves.
Man U r Loosers Chelsea is the best. go chelsea FOREVER.
Hargreaves is a cute player. If what he played last season was about 60% of his performance, then, we should see a more interesting football this season. The list of injuries on ManU at the moment is not unlikely; a team that won the EPL and Champions League last season would naturally be prone to injuries, having exposed the players to big matches (esp their match against Roma both at home and away). We hope they recover soon so that we watch yet another amazing football. With ManU meeting Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Liverpool at Anfield both in September, they cannot afford to miss their reliable force - Giggs, C.Ronaldo, Tevez, Carrick, Hargreaves, Anderson and even Rooney that I hear took an injury from last game. I enjoy the game played by the big 4 especially Chelsea and ManU. Keep it up Hargreaves.
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