On-loan midfielder Luke Freeman has spoken about his injury hell at Nottingham Forest, which has taken away half of his season so far.
The 28-year-old signed on a season-long loan from Sheffield United in the summer, but has only managed 12 appearances.
Many Forest fans have commented on Freeman’s lack of fitness, but this has been put down to an incorrect medical assessment on his hernia prior to his arrival at the club.
“It’s been very frustrating, to be perfectly honest with you,” Freeman said to Nottinghamshire Live.
“I had surgery before I joined the club, which I thought had been and gone, but it turned out I had the wrong surgery – the surgery was done wrong.
“I was playing with a lot of pain when I first joined and it was only until I went to Germany that we found out exactly what was going on and realised it was completely wrong.”
Much was expected of Freeman when he arrived at Forest, having shone at Queens Park Rangers to the point recently promoted Sheffield United signed him for a then club-record fee of £5million.
However, he has incurred the wrath of Forest fans for below par performances, although it now is very clear as to why that level of performance was occurring.
Having started the last two games, playing his first full 90 since October in the 0-0 draw with AFC Bournemouth, Freeman wants to put a frustrating time behind him and move forwards.
“It was nice to get that redone, get it sorted out and I’m finally getting back to feeling strong and pain-free, which is massive for me.
“It’s frustrating because you have surgery and think, that’s you done now. You’re thinking maybe there’s a bit of backlash from the surgery you’ve had and it will eventually go.
“But it was getting worse and worse. I’m happy to put that behind me.
“I’m really happy to be back in the team, in amongst the lads and feeling fit and strong.”
Will Nottingham Forest see the best of Luke Freeman this season?