Former Coventry City forward Kevin Kyle is to have more surgery.
Kyle, now at Hearts, has been out for a year with a hip injury and is to have more surgery at the end of this month to try to keep his playing career going.
"I've overcome some things in my life and this has been one of the hardest things," Kyle said to BBC Scotland.
"Nobody's said I'll have to retire. I've got a chance and hopefully the option I've got will work."
"I just don't believe for a minute I need to finish football and I'm hoping the surgery I get at the end of the month will sort all that and give me everything I need to push on again
"Hopefully it's just an impingement, where two bones are rubbing, and they can be shaved off and smoothed.
"Hopefully that will put an end to this saga and I can resume my football career.
"I never envisaged it would take this long. I'd just like to get back playing, even if it's for one season."
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Meanwhile former City youngster Craig Reid is back training with Stevenage after missing the last month through a groin injury.