Former France and Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse has told RMC he wants to return to professional football less than a year after hip replacement surgery.
Cisse, 35, has not played a competitive game since featuring for Ligue 1 Bastia in the final match of the 2014-15 season.
He had been suffering chronic hip problems in recent years and after having replacement surgery, returned to Auxerre, where he made his name between 1999 and 2004.
He has since trained with the youth and reserve teams and also spent spells with the first team.
"It's going surprisingly well," he said. "There's no pain and I don't even have any problems in terms of movement in the joint. It's surprising.
"Last week, I had a session with the pros, and it went well. I think that in the coming weeks I'll have a few more sessions with the first team and we'll see after that.
"To give you an idea of where I am today, I think there are still some weeks of work and that in January, I'll be ready and able to help a team that will want me to."
He said he would happily stay with Auxerre, currently second-from-bottom of Ligue 2, adding: "I have said that it would be a pleasure for me to lend a hand to the club that enabled me to be where I am today.
"To repay the favour would be cool. But there are people here who have to decide whether I can help them or if it's not enough for them."