Tyias Browning is taking a 'softly softly' approach to returning from the knee injury that has kept him sidelined for the past 10 months.
The young defender suffered the problem in a Lancashire Senior Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers back in December.
Browning has put in the hours to steadily recover and rebuild the muscle around the knee, but admits there is still work to be done to make his full comeback.
“I am at the stage now where I have just got to be careful,” he explained to evertonfc.com. “That way I can make sure I come back in good enough shape.
“The knee feels good at the minute but I am just going day-by-day. I have to make sure it is 100 per cent for when I get back playing.
“Each day, I come in and ‘activate’ it with certain specific exercises. But the physios monitor me constantly and they have helped me a lot.”
It has been a challenge both physically and mentally for Browning. Never before has he had to deal with such a bad injury, let alone a recovery period of such length.
But his natural good-naturedness and sense of humour has got him through, as well as his opportunity to become a Evertonian again.
“I had the operation a couple of days after I found out about the injury," he recalled. "That was the beginning of a long road. It has been nearly 10 months since the operation. I had never been injured before, even growing up as a kid, so to get hit with a nine-to-12 month injury was the worst feeling I have ever had.
“At first it was mentally challenging and don’t get me wrong, it still is now. I was on crutches for two months and that was tough.
“Watching the games was hard as well. You want to be playing. You see instances where you could have had an opportunity and it is frustrating. I never stopped watching though – I have just become even more of an Everton fan! I don’t like watching other teams because that makes we want to play. But I will always watch Everton.”
His teammates and fellow Blues have also been influential. Browning is active on social media and has regularly been boosted by messages from supporters.
“Arouna Kone had a similar operation so he has been helping me on the road to recovery – I use Arouna as my guide!” he joked. “He’s always giving me little ideas on exercises to try and things like that. But the whole team have helped keep my spirits up.
“I have had a lot of messages on social media from fans as well. When I go to games they always ask me when I am back. They have always been positive and I want to thank them for that.
“It will be a special moment when I am back out there, and I can’t wait. I’m going to be so rusty though!”
Everton