Leicester City defender Sean St Ledger has spoken of his delight at returning to action after what he describes as the worst injury of his career.
The 28-year-old made his comeback after more than five months out of action with a hamstring injury in City's draw in Cardiff two weeks ago.
He admits that when he first picked up the injury at home to Bristol City, at the start of October, he didn't expect to be out for so long.
But the injury proved more problematic than first expected and St Ledger had to fly to Munich to see renowned specialist and Bayern Munich club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt.
The doctor is dubbed 'Healing Hans', for his work with some of the world's top sportsmen.
If the course of injections, which is understood to have contained calf's blood, he received had not worked, St Ledger could have been facing surgery.
But now he is back, the Republic of Ireland international wants to put the injury behind him.
"I didn't expect to be out so long when I first did it," he said.
"Five months was the longest and worst injury I have had in my career by a long stretch.
"I wouldn't say I am a negative person who gets down too easily. During the period I was out I was fine really, but it is never nice missing games.
"The time I was probably at my lowest was when I had to go out to Germany and they said it would be another two months out. Then I knew I was going to miss a large part of the season.
"The doctor was brilliant. I had two options, either surgery or go and see him.
"Having surgery on a hamstring wasn't appealing and I hadn't really heard of it. I was against that option, especially because if it didn't go well, then where do you go from there?
"I went to Germany and he was fantastic. It is a great set-up and very professional.
"He gave me some injections and then I went to see a physio and then a top chiropractor. I was out there for five days initially .
"When I went back for the results, he was very pleased with them and how quick it had healed. I was sat there panicking, thinking I was going to be there for a few days, but he said I was fine to go home. I was also told I could start running."
St Ledger said he was also extremely grateful to City boss Nigel Pearson and his staff with the way he was nursed back to full fitness.
"Everyone has been fantastic while I have been out, from the physios to the manager, and I can't thank them enough for what they have done," he said.
"It is great to be back in action. I was a little weary at first because I had broken down a couple of times trying to get back and that was what caused the problem.
"The fitness coach, Matt Reeves, has worked really hard with me and I have done a lot of running. At one point I thought I had joined Leicester athletics club, I ran so much.
"But that is all behind me now and, hopefully, I can look forward.
"I have come back at the business end of the season and, hopefully, it will be a good time to be back."
St Ledger was an unused substitute in the Republic of Ireland's 0-0 World Cup qualifier in Sweden on Friday night.
