Gundogan won't be the 'same player' after injury

Gundogan made a promising start to his Manchester City career after joining from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2016 for £21m. He had started 15 matches by mid-December and scored twice in City's memorable 3-1 victory at home to Barcelona in the Champions League.

However, the German international suffered a serious injury in a victory over Watford on December 14 and only made his return as a substitute against the same opponents during Saturday's 6-0 triumph. He is now in contention to make his first start since the injury in the Carabao Cup match at West Brom  on Wednesday evening.

Gundogan's rehabilitation has been far from easy and speaking about his time on the sidelines for the first time since making his return, it is clear that the suffering was not just physical, but psychological as well.

"It was a long wait – and tough as well," the 26-year-old said. "That is why it feels so special to return. I was sad just to watch in front of the TV or in the stands. I am used to playing every three or four days. If an injury takes it away then it is always disappointing and it feels weird.

"To be honest, you don't feel as part of the group anymore. You are not travelling with the team anymore. You do everything on your own or with the physio. So of course, that is the worst feeling you can have as a football player. So, that is also the reason it was that hard over the months."

The former Dortmund man had another long period on the sidelines during his spell at the German club, where he suffered a back injury for most of the 2013-14 season. On his arrival at City, his debut was initially delayed due to a dislocation to the right knee which he subsequently injured in December.

"The worst time was of course the day of the injury or when I knew what exactly happened. When I knew there would be six, seven, eight, nine months out. That was the worst feeling.

"The day after the surgery was not so good either. But then, at one point, you start to do it again. You start to do your rehabilitation. You recover. You have ups and downs, days you feel better, days you feel very bad. I think that is normal. It is not just me.

"I did not have doubts whether I would play anymore. The ACL is a common injury so you have surgery, the doctors know what they are doing. But of course it is long and it is my second knee injury."

As he makes his latest return for injury, Gundogan provides an honest assessments as to whether he thinks he can reach the levels which convinced Pep Guardiola to bring him to the Premier League.

"There are doubts if I will be again at the level I had before so, of course that is the case. As I said because of these ups and downs, more of the downs, it is sometimes frustrating. The doubts are at this point even bigger. But I had no other choice. I am a football player. This is what I do. This is what I have done all my life. This is my job. For me, there was no other choice than to try again.

"If I said I am the same player as I was a year ago, I would be lying. I mean, through the injury, you don't feel the same. You don't feel as though you are the most powerful guy in the world - not that I ever did. I had two injuries on my knee and I know what to do to prepare myself for the games and to warm my knee up and be generally fit.

"I will do everything to be as fit as possible. That could be it for all the injuries! I think I am done now! I am ready to continue playing, to keep fit. To enjoy playing."