Preston goalkeeper Wayne Henderson has revealed he has sought help from a sport psychologist after almost a year out of the game with a back injury.
The Eire international has admitted that being unable to play since last August has been almost unbearable.
"I'm lucky enough to have a sport psyschologist who has really helped me." He told BBC Radio Lancashire.
"He's brought a whole new level to my mentality. I can't wait to use him on a regular basis when I'm playing."
Henderson last played for Preston in the 3-0 home defeat against Colchester in August 2007 and since then has undergone two back operations to varying degrees of success.
"It all started with a slipped disc. Sadly because I'd dealt with it for so long and probably shouldn't have I tried playing on as long as I could the problem escalated." He said.
"When I had the operation it set off another problem. When I had the second operation it set off another problem. It's kind of escalated the whole way through."
"I'm going to have to face that I might have to set a new threshold of pain"
"It times you do get down. You feel great one day and then the next day you get sore again and take a step backwards. I'm big enough and ugly enough to realise that I'm going to have to face that I might have to set a new threshold of pain." Henderson said.
Having played only eight matches in eighteen months, Henderson has said he hopes to be back in full training soon, but, is refusing to set a timescale on it.
"We're taking a real positive turn at the moment. I've had two operations and two sets of injections which have just finished now. It's really feeling good and I'm starting to get back to fitness work again." He said.
"I just want to get fit and get myself back in contention and get Lonners (Andrew Lonergan) out of my jersey because I don't like him being in my jersey." He added.
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