As Ireland prepare for crucial Euro 2016 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germnany over the coming week, preparation at club level has not been smooth for Jon Walters.
The versatile and combative forward has only featured in three of Stoke City's seven Premier League matches with injury hampering him.
"I was back involved at the weekend against Sunderland and I'm itching to get over here and hopefully get some game-time," Walters told Off The Ball tonight.
He said that his knee now feels as good as it has done in six or seven months.
"When I did hurt my calf it was a chance to get to the bottom of it," he said, referencing a recent issue that flared up.
Momentum is extra crucial for Walters given the increased competition up front at Stoke since the summer. The 31-year-old is competing with Bojan Krkic, Victor Moses, Peter Crouch, Peter Odemwingie, Marko Arnautovic and Mame Biram Diouf for one of the forward positions in Mark Hughes's squad.
He admitted that he had knocked on Hughes's door to find out where he figured in future plans.
"I knew we were going to sign players in the summer and at the moment we're only playing one up front. I just asked [Mark Hughes] and he said I was part of his plans. I'm used to playing a lot over the course of the season. You have to look at it and see how it goes," said Walters, who also said he prefers playing centrally but is willing to do a shift out wide if necessary - even if the traditional wing role does not come naturally to him.
It's a role he has often played for Ireland and he explained how having Seamus Coleman behind him can help.
Meanwhile, he also coyly mentioned that Roy Keane's book has got a mention among the Ireland players this week and has been a cause for "banter". He was also touched on his own mention in the book when things got physical with his now international assistant manager at Ipswich. He says the two "get on well now".
He also spoke about the ways Keane has changed as a coach since their time together at Ipswich and says he "wouldn't think twice" if Keane became a club manager in the future and sought to sign him.
Listen to the full interview via the Football Show podcast.
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