Dundee midfielder Jamie Ness has renewed hope that his injury troubles could finally be over.
The former Rangers, Stoke and Plymouth player has featured only 11 times for the Dark Blues this season, with his last appearance as a substitute in the win over Partick Thistle on December 21.
Ness has been dogged by injuries since joining the Dens men last summer, suffering problems with his ankle and calf.
There is now reason to believe, though, that a solution can be found.
The 28-year-old is ready to make his comeback tonight when Motherwell visit Dens Park in the fourth round of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
He hopes that will just be the start of a bright, injury-free chapter in his career.
Ness said: “I had the ankle issue at the start of the season which continued on and off for a few months.
“I then had a calf issue on the same side, which wasn’t bad but just kept recurring.
“We have fixed that and hopefully done the same with the other problems as well.
“I have had loads of things thrown at me over the years and nobody has been able to pinpoint it but it is more of a mechanical issue that needs a bit of tweaking.
“This time it sounds right and makes a lot of sense to me.
“It is just certain things I need to do in the gym with my body to get me prepared for training and games,” he explained.
“I also have to make sure I am recovering at the same time.
“Fingers crossed, we have hopefully got to the bottom of it and it isn’t just a quick fix.
“Dundee were wanting to find out why I was getting these injuries and not just sort what was immediately in front of them.
“I don’t want to go into it too much yet as it will be a lot of hard work on my part.
“However, I am more than prepared to do that if it is going to keep me fit and give me a chance at an extended run playing football.
“I like to think I live right, look after myself, work hard and do everything I am asked to do so it would be nice to reap the rewards of that.”
Ness expressed his gratitude to Dundee physio Gerry Docherty and the rest of the backroom team for helping him through it.
He also has a manager in James McPake who knows only too well how frustrating injury woes can be.
Ness said: “I have to credit Gerry and the staff here for looking after me so well.
“The manager has been great, too.
“When he played here, he had his issues and the club were brilliant with him. Whatever needed done, they got it done for him.
“To be fair, they have been the same with me.
“Anything that Gerry or the gaffer has asked for, it hasn’t been a problem for the club.
“It has been a big step forward for me personally and I am just looking forward to getting back out there.
“This is probably the most confident I have been with it.
“I have trained the last week and played on Tuesday in a reserve game so I am feeling really good.
“For me, looking forward to being able to think I can go and play 40 or 50 games a season and not have to worry about any injury issues would be a massive bonus.”
It could be a daunting comeback for Ness from a playing perspective, with Well sitting in third spot in the Premiership on merit this season.
He said: “Motherwell have been flying and they are playing good football.
“So it will be a big test for us but it is one we are looking forward to.
“We have quite a lot of people to prove a point to. We haven’t been good enough consistently this season.
“We still have a lot of games left to play this year and want to start putting things right.”
