Denver Hume has revealed he can't wait to return to full fitness and get back out on the grass.
The full-back has sat and watched from the sidelines as Sunderland under-23s have begun their 2016-17 Premier League campaign in fine fettle.
With three wins from their opening five league games, Hume, who is a first-year professional, has been forced to separate himself from the team as he has stuck to his regimented recovery programme.
While the process has been a tedious and tiresome one there is light at the end of the tunnel for the defender, and he has told safc.com he is itching to get back into the thick of it.
“I’m feeling good at the minute,” he said. “I have been running for the last couple of weeks and it feels great to be back amongst it.
“It’s going to be a big step up for me so I have got to change and adapt to that, get a lot stronger in the gym and try to improve as much as I can to help the team."
He continued: “Even though I haven’t been playing I have been able to focus on other things, I have worked in the gym, got stronger and hopefully that will benefit me.
“The lads have had a great start to the season, they have picked up some good results so it’s going to be tough to get back into the team but that’s something I am going to enjoy trying to do.
