Middlesbrough have been without one of their key leaders for the majority of the season so far.
Thankfully, that man is on the cusp of a return to first team duty.
George Friend returned to full training on Monday morning after a lengthy absence with a hip and abductor injury.
The 32-year-old has played just one match since the start of August - something that he'll be hoping to put right upon his return.
Friend is out of contract in the summer and with his future hanging in the balance he'll be hoping to prove his form and fitness in an attempt to earn a contract either at the Riverside Stadium or elsewhere come the summer.
He may find his spot in the team difficult to reclaim but what can George Friend bring to Jonathan Woodgate's squad?
We took to Wyscout to look at the key numbers behind his performances last term.
It's been a frustrating campaign for George Friend who has had torrid luck with injuries.
However that hasn't always been the case.
The 32-year-old has been a consistent and reliable performer for the Teessiders in his seven and a half years at the Riverside Stadium and that has to be taken into consideration when assessing his future.
It was only last season that Friend was a virtual ever-present.
The experienced defender made 43 appearances for Middlesbrough last term as he established himself as a central figure under Tony Pulis.
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In that time, Friend contributed three goals and three assists - a decent tally for a player tasked with prioritising defensive stability over everything else.
His defensive statistics were pretty impressive too.
Friend had an average of 4.16 interceptions per game last term, showing his ability to read the game and act accordingly.
In addition to that the full-back won 56.9% of the aerial duels that he competed in, while winning 57.7% of the defensive duels that he took on.
If Friend can replicate these kind of numbers between now and the end of the season he'll certainly five Jonathan Woodgate and the Middlesbrough hierarchy something to think about.