Carlisle defender Danny Livesey is determined to regain his regular centre-back role in Greg Abbott's side following a torrid spell on the sidelines.
The 24-year-old missed the final four months of the season with tendonitis of the knee but is hoping to get the all-clear to return to action when he sees the surgeon next month.
He told the club's official website: "It's coming on very well. It's been hell and I'm never the best watcher anyway. To not able to do even the day-to-day stuff like going out training with the lads, I've missed everything. So I'll be the happiest man ever in pre-season and I'll be the most unfit."
He added: "It's going to have been five to six months I've been out, so there's a long road ahead to get fit but so long as my knee is fine, then there's no reason why it shouldn't come back.
"If I'm fit I'll want to play and I'm sure everyone will say that. I enjoy the challenge and it's up to me to make that centre-half spot mine."
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