JAMES Morrison has targeted a return to first-team action against Ipswich or Sheffield United at the end of this month after today revealing the depths of his injury hell.
The Baggies midfielder has been sidelined by a mysterious heel problem which saw him suffer a five-day stay in hospital, endure ten weeks attached to a catheter 24 hours a day and undergo THREE operations.
But following a nine-month spell on the sidelines, he can now see light at the end of the tunnel after finally being able to don a pair of trainers - and return to training.
"It all started with a heel problem I had for months and I was just playing through it," said Morrison.
"It got to a point where I needed an injection to play.
"I had one before the Manchester City game and through the following night I was in agony.
"In the morning, my foot was like a balloon.
"I got rushed to hospital and I was in there for five days.
"The swelling went down and there was a wound that went right down to my bone.
"I thought it would heal and that I'd be back playing by no later than a couple of games from the end of last season.
"It was a worry because it just wasn't healing.
"I went to see a plastic surgeon and he cut me open, went in and cleaned it out.
"He stitched me up - but that didn't work.
"Then I went to see a surgeon who had operated on these type of injuries before, and he operated on me.
"I then had a pump on it for a couple of weeks - 24/7.
"It was like a catheter - the tube went into my heel and I had a little bag which the bad stuff drained into.
"That didn't really work and then the surgeon referred me to another specialist.
"He basically started all over again.
"He made a big wound in my heel and I had the catheter on again 24/7 for eight weeks.
"I had to go to London every two days to have it changed.
"It was a bit painful but finally it all closed up.
"Then the hard work started, with me running and trying to get fit."
The Scotland international admits it has been a frustrating time for him and mentally draining.
But he insists it has made him more determined to make the most of his playing career.
Morrison added: "Having something so serious that I didn't think was serious has made it a really hard time.
"I couldn't do anything.
"I was just sitting at home and getting fat!
"My head was all over the place and I thank those people, like my girlfriend, for putting up with me, and obviously our physio, Richie Rawlins, as well.
"Not many people realised what I was going through and it was a tough time.
"I can only be a better person from this and realise what a good opportunity I've got, and take that into games.
"I will always look back on this and take it with me.
"Getting bad news after bad news was hard to take.
"I was going to the doctors expecting good news and the next minute I was having an operation.
"I'm one of those people who loves to play football and train so it was frustrating.
"I think the hardest point as well was having that machine attached to me 24/7.
"It was hard going out and having people staring at you, so I just had to stay in and play X-box!"
The 23-year-old ace scored four goals and created several assists in the Baggies' Coca-Cola Championship promotion success of two years ago.
And his eagerness to return to action was emphasised last week when he made a beat-the-snow trip to Lanzarote to step up his comeback with warm-weather training.
"All I thought about was getting back and finding the level I got to last season," said Morrison.
"I've had a few weeks of training and running now.
"I couldn't do much with the snow here, which was stopping me progressing.
"I went to Lanzarote and had good training for four days.
"I worked really hard.
"I'm hoping to do my first bit of training with the lads today and then I'll try and play a game and get 45 minutes.
"There are not many reserves games so I might need to go straight into first-team action.
"I could return against Sheffield United at the end of the month, or even Ipswich away just before that."
