HULL City defender Joe Dudgeon has set his sights on a return to full fitness in 2014 after being cleared to resume light training in the last week.
Dudgeon has endured a miserable spell since undergoing knee surgery in October 2012. Although a painstaking rehabilitation saw the left-back feature in the Hull City pre-season campaign and the opening two rounds of the Capital One Cup against Leyton Orient and Huddersfield, the road to recovery has been potholed by frustration over recent months.
Complications felt inside the right knee scuppered the prospect of moving to a Championship club on loan and even raised fears of further surgery.
That grim prospect has thankfully been averted following a six-week period of rest and Dudgeon is being tipped to do everything in his powers to bounce back in the New Year.
"He's been given the go-ahead to go back out on the grass so we're all hoping he can make a recovery," said manager Steve Bruce.
"It's been a horrible injury he's had but we hope now that, after a period of rest, his knee can stand up to the rigours of what's ahead of him.
"If anyone can do it, then Joe's got to be the man. If every footballer was like Joe Dudgeon, I wouldn't have a problem in the world.
"He's a terrific lad and very tough mentally. Since he first had the operation and into this season, it's never got him down.
"He comes in every morning and just sticks with it. I just hope he gets the break he needs now."
Dudgeon, who was signed from Manchester United in May 2011, is certainly due a turnaround in fortunes. After playing the first 11 league and cup games of Bruce's reign, he was told his season was over last October due to an osteochondral defect, a relatively rare injury twice suffered by former captain Ian Ashbee.
It was hoped surgery would bring a full recovery in time for the start of the 2013-14 campaign but discomfort has continued for Dudgeon following his return to action.
Last October's operation, which involved holes being drilled into the affected bone, can take up to two years to fully heal and further rehabilitation has been required before Dudgeon is allowed to resume full training.
A long-term question mark remains over the 23-year-old's fitness, but Bruce is optimistic.
"There's been a bit of a set-back in the last couple of months, but with all these things we just need to wait for nature and the healing process," he added.
"You have to take time and we hope he's had enough. All the doctors, physios and specialists are all trying to get him back as soon as we can but we know with Joe that we've got to give it time, as long as it needs, because it's such a serious one."
