Zak Gilsenan is hungry to get back on the pitch as he continues to make positive progress in his recovery from injury.

The midfielder has been out of action with a thigh problem, having suffered a setback on the eve of pre-season.

Gilsenan made a handful of appearances for the first team last term and got on the scoresheet against Walsall and Harrogate in the Carabao Cup.

“I am definitely (making progress),” he told RoversTV. “It has been tough, not the start I would have liked.

“I really wanted to impress the gaffer and his staff, but things happen in football where sometimes you just have to get on with, keep your head high and come back stronger.

“I had a really good season last year, injury free for most but I had a few niggles toward the back end. The way it panned out, I was scoring goals for the 21s and felt a bit unlucky really.

“It is tough dealing with it mentally, it took me a week or so. I have a good family and they definitely helped.”

Gilsenan has had his fair share of bad injury luck at Rovers, having previously been sidelined by an ACL problem.

However, the 21-year-old is staying positive and believes his past recovery can help him this time around.

“It is just knowing my ability and knowing you will never lose that part of your game, it is more the fitness side coming back which will take a while,” he explained.

“I have belief in myself and I know that I have done it before with my ACL, I will come back stronger.

“With injuries, you always have to look at the positives. I might be getting stronger in the gym or getting better in areas where I wasn’t necessarily as good when I was playing.

“I have been doing a lot of work outside football just to get myself stronger in areas where maybe I wasn’t as strong before.

“Dealing with my ACL quite young was tough, I felt like I missed a year compared to most of the lads.

“I have had two injuries and they have both been quite big ones, but I am strong mentally and believe in my abilities.”

Having had a taste of first team football last season, Gilsenan is desperate to be back among it and show what he can do.

“I am back out running now, which is always nice,” he said. “It always goes quicker when you are on the pitch. I should be back training with the team in bits and bobs.

“I get a scan in about three weeks’ time and hopefully, if that shows I am progressing well, we can move forward from there and get back training with the lads.”

“It is a bit cold out there now,” he grinned. “But being in and around it and watching the lads train, it is a lot nicer than being in the gym.

“No footballer wants to be injured. It is a tough period so making sure that everything is right this time is a big factor for me, I am sure it will be.”