Wolves' Yerson Mosquera on the mental toll of a serious knee injury
Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera admits his mental wellbeing is the most important factor in his recovery from injury.
The Colombian started the season in the starting XI under Gary O'Neil last year, but suffered a serious knee injury at Villa Park, with damage to both his medial collateral ligament and the anterior cruciate ligament.
His season was over as he required surgery, but the 24-year-old is now back in action after playing 25 minutes against Girona in a pre-season friendly at the weekend.
Mosquera is delighted to be back playing and admits the mental toll of his injury, and subsequent comeback, is the most crucial part to deal with as he rebuilds his confidence.
"I'm really happy, it's good to be back again," Mosquera told the Express & Star.
"When you have a long time outside, it's difficult because we love to play football.
"It's really important for me. When I touch the pitch for my first minute, for my first time, I feel excited.
"I need to work a little bit more for my knee to be more confident. I will be doing this.
"I think it's really important how you feel mentally.
"That's the most important thing because you can recover with the knee, but if you're not good in your mind, you are dead.
"For me, it's really good because everyone has helped me.
"When I come on, everyone brings me the confidence to play again.
"Everyone believes in me and they know how I work, how I do everything in training.
"The mentality is the most important thing, I think, because if you are strong in the mind, everything is OK."
Last season was meant to be Mosquera's breakthrough at Wolves until the damaging injury.
Now, as he aims to make his mark for the club, the defender has praised the Wolves staff for aiding his recovery.
"It was really hard, really sad because I was in a good moment with the team, with the starting XI, with the national team," Mosquera said when asked about his injury blow against Villa in September last year.
"When this happened, I know it's difficult to recover after this injury, but I have good people, a good group, the staff, the coaches as well.
"They help me a lot. They bring me the confidence in my recovery, and that is really important. It's really good.
"They put me inside the group every day. They told me about the good things. Now I'm good and happy.
"I need to give back again to them, more for the club and for the supporters."
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