Will Hughes admits that nothing could prepare him for the serious knee injury that has wrecked his season – but he is determined to make those months on the sidelines count.
The England Under-21s midfielder suffered an ACL injury playing for Derby County in their first game of the season in August and was ruled out for six months.
England U21s v Switzerland
UEFA European U21 Championship
Group 9 Qualifier
5.45pm, Monday 16 November 2015
Amex Stadium, Brighton
Live on BT Sport 1
But speaking at the Together for England Roadshow at Derby University this week, Hughes said he is working hard to recover while broadening his own horizons.
"I’m two months into it right now so I’m moving around. It’s going fairly well," he said. "I don’t really want to put a time limit on it but hopefully I’ll play a couple of games before the end of the season.
"I’ve stepped it up a notch. At first you’re just trying to get the flexibility back in the joint. Now I’m starting to get a bit more strength in."
The 20-year-old said the prospect of a spell on the sidelines was hard to take at first.
"The next worse injury I’ve had was probably a hamstring tweak, I’ve never been badly injured until now," he said.
Will Hughes, Alex Greenwood, Melissa Lawley and Jamie Hanson with kids at a Together for England Roadshow at the University of Derby
"In the early stages it is really frustrating – mentally tough – as you try to get your head around the fact that you’re going to be out so long.
"But as time goes on you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s difficult.
"In a way, it’s a blessing in disguise. I’ve been playing constantly for nearly four years at Championship level and it takes its toll. This gives me a break."
Hughes, who has A-Levels in business studies and politics, is also keen to further his development as a professional, and his passion for football extends beyond a watching brief.
"I watch quite a lot of Spanish football. I find that quite interesting and the level of quality is very high," he said.
"I have recently taken up learning Spanish, partly to fill my time and give me a bit of a challenge. It is quite difficult, but it’s something to fall back on."
Not that the fair-skinned Hughes is certain an Iberian lifestyle would be for him.
"I might get burnt out there! Spain is obviously an attractive place to play from a footballing point of view but that is a long way off at the moment."
Will Hughes and England U23s' Melissa Lawley get involved in the FA Skills session
Right now Hughes is excited to work with boss Paul Clement – who arrived at Pride Park following spells as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant at Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
"He is extremely good. He has lived up to CV," he said.
"Coaching-wise he has been incredible to work with. To come to a club in the Championship to take to it straight away and to do as well as he is is very impressive."
Equally, Hughes is relishing the opportunity to work through training drills designed for Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco and co.
VIDEO: @wjhughes19 & @AlexGreenwood16 help coach local kids at launch of @DerbyUni's sports hub #TogetherforEngland https://t.co/xzB40yQfV7
— England (@england) October 27, 2015
"It is a bit surreal when you look at it like that. When you have been at Real Madrid, PSG and coached players like Verratti, Ibrahimovic, Ronaldo, it is frightening really."
When Hughes returns, he hopes he will do so in a Derby side that has maintained its push for promotion.
His football viewing has reached new levels since the injury, although Derby’s success under Clement has helped ease the frustration.
Will Hughes poses with kids at the University of Derby
"That makes my watching much easier. I go to every home game and when I get a bit better I'll hopefully take in a few away games," he explained.
"In a way, the boys doing well makes it less frustrating for me watching from the sidelines because they are playing well and winning games, which is extremely difficult in the Championship.
"That gives me something to aim for – to come back into a side that’s right up near the top of the table."
Tickets for the game will go on sale at the Amex Stadium on Thursday 8 October, priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions (U18s, Over 65s and students, on display of valid ID), family tickets (2 adults, 2 children) £20, Group Booking (15 plus) £5 adults & £2.50 children (U18s).
