Steven Pienaar has not ruled out the possibility of his loan spell at former club Everton becoming permanent - but he first wants to get rid of his frustration at not playing.
The South Africa international, who left Goodison Park for London a year ago, has made just seven appearances this season, with only two of those as a substitute in the Barclays Premier League.
With Tottenham flying high in the title race, the 29-year-old has found it difficult to break into the side and so a return to Everton offers him the chance to pick up where he left off last January.
"I feel great to be back. I just want to play football and this is a great opportunity to come back and play," he said.
"It was a bad start with the groin injury when I joined (Spurs) and I had an operation in the summer and that slowed things down a bit.
"Of course if you get injured then when you get back fit and the team is playing really well you just have to wait for your chance.
"Hopefully everything is behind me, I have been fit for the last two months so that is a good thing.
"I was waiting and eventually had to make a decision. I want to play football and am not getting any younger.
"I had a word with the manager (Harry Redknapp) and we came to an agreement that I could go.
"You never know what will happen in football, things change every day.
"If I have a good few months we will see what happens in the summer but let me focus on the first few months and get playing and then see what happens in the summer."
Pienaar was a key figure in David Moyes' side first time around but knows he will have to win over both the manager and the fans, having turned down a new contract to stay at Everton a year ago.
However, he remained on good terms with many of the players while in London and hopes that will help him settle back in quickly.
"I have been speaking to the players a lot and when the manager gave me a call on Tuesday it made things much easier," said Pienaar.
"Like all the other players I have to come and fight for my place.
"I know it is not going to be easy, the team has had two good wins so I will have to come and fight and show I deserve a place.
"You could say there is pressure because people will expect the same stuff but maybe I'll have a Landon Donovan effect (who returned to the club for a second loan spell from Los Angeles Galaxy) and do even better than last time."
The Toffees' new striker Nikica Jelavic is confident he can make the step up from Scottish to English football.
The Croatia international made a deadline-day move from Rangers for a reported £5.5million and does not expect to have too many difficulties adapting to the Barclays Premier League.
Asked what he would bring to Everton he said: "Goals, goals and more goals.
"I know Everton have not scored much this season but I don't feel the pressure, I like a challenge.
"I will do my best to score many goals. I am always looking to be better every day and my ambitions are to play well and to be useful for the team and score as many goals as possible.
"I know it is a big difference but I think in Scotland you also have to be 100 per cent and they also have tough games.
"Playing in Scotland helped me a lot and I think I am ready.
"The Premier League is something on a higher level and I hope it will be good for me. I don't think I will need time to settle."
Jelavic scored 36 times in just 55 appearances for Rangers, having been signed for £4million in the summer of 2010 from Rapid Vienna - for whom he hit 40 goals in 93 games in three seasons in the Austrian league.
And he hopes to be able to fire the goals to help his new club move up from their 10th-place spot to challenge for a European place.
"Europe is something special and we need to play well if we want to get there but everyone among the players wants to play in Europe," he added.
The 26-year-old insists he was not forced out by cash-strapped Rangers but admits he is worried about what the future holds for the Ibrox side.
"It is a difficult situation for them I know and I heard inside information about them having problems," he added.
"It is still my team and my friends are there and I am worried about the situation but I think they will find a solution because they are a big institution.
"My dream was to play in the English Premier League but I never forced my transfer.
"I spoke with Ally McCoist and said if the president wants me to stay I'll stay and if they need money and want me to leave I'll leave - the club decided."
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