Ilkay Gundogan suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury last December

The Manchester City midfielder is finally back in action for his club

He made his return as a substitute in Saturday's 6-0 win at Watford

Gundogan has suffered long-term back problems and two knee injuries

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan fears he may not return as the same player after a hellish year battling back from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Gundogan made a promising start to his City career after signing for £21m in the summer of 2016. He started 15 matches by mid-December and scored two goals in City's stunning 3-1 home victory over Barcelona in the Champions League.

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However, the German suffered a serious knee injury in a victory over Watford on December 14 and only made his return as a substitute at Vicarage Road during Saturday's 6-0 triumph. He is now in contention for his first start of the season at West Brom in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.

Ilkay Gundogan has admitted he won't be the same player as before after his latest knee injury

He made his first-team return to action on Saturday - nine months after injuring his knee

The playmaker suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury against Watford last December

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The rehabilitation has not been easy for Gundogan and speaking in-depth for the first time since returning, it quickly comes across that the suffering was psychological as well as physical.

'It was a long wait – and tough as well,' Gundogan, 26, 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.'

Gundogan previously had an extensive spell on the sidelines during his time with Dortmund, where he suffered a back injury for the majority of the 2013-14 season. Upon arriving at City, his debut was delayed due to a dislocation to the right knee that he subsequently injured in December.

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In recent campaigns, the German international has suffered serious back and knee injuries

'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.'

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As he makes his latest return, Gundogan is searingly honest as he considers whether he will reach the levels that convinced Pep Guardiola to bring him to the Premier League.

His aim is now to enjoy an injury-free period part in his career for the Premier League leaders

'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.

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'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.'