Joel Ekstrand tellingly rubs his left knee as he looks back over the last 11 months. They’ve been some of the hardest of his career.

But as the defender inches closer to a return following the worst injury he’s ever suffered he is philosophical.

“Everything came together at that moment and that was it. Done. I was injured and I knew it was bad.”

Ekstrand is referring to the knee ligament injury he suffered on March 17, 2015. Watford were taking on Ipswich Town at Vicarage Road. It was a big game with both sides pushing for promotion from the Championship.

Just after the half hour mark Ekstrand attempted to close down Ipswich defender Tyrone Mings.

No contact was made but the Watford centre-back crumbled to the floor. He knew instantly serious damage had been done.

“It was a normal change of direction. Something a player does 1,000 times in a match and in training. It happened in a second and it’s difficult to remember it to be honest.

“I have watched it back since. It just came from nothing. The pain was nothing like I had ever experienced. I can’t compare it to anything. You know when something feels wrong. And it felt really wrong.

“I do remember lying on the pitch and thinking that I am going to be out for a long time.

“You then think about why? Why has this happened? But it’s impossible. It was the third game in a week so maybe I was a little tired. Who knows?

“When I left the pitch and was in the medical room with the doctor (Ritan Mehta) I asked him to tell it to me straight. He said it was almost certainly an anterior cruciate ligament injury. So that was it. Season over.”

Mehta’s immediate diagnosis was partly correct. Unfortunately Ekstrand had also fractured a bone in his knee and damaged the cartilage in the joint.

Surgery was required but the Swedish international had to wait a fortnight for the swelling to subside.

It was during that time he attended Watford’s Championship fixture with Middlesbrough at Vicarage Road. It was another key game in the Hornets’ promotion bid.

Ekstrand took his place in the stand and looked around the stadium. It was then the realisation truly hit.

“I had never been out for more than a couple of weeks. I’d just had small injuries, like rolling my ankle or having a small muscle problem.

“So I hadn’t truly thought about how hard it is to be out for so long. But I remember Middlesbrough at home. It wasn’t long after I had the injury and I was feeling a bit sorry for myself. It was a very big match for us.

“It was sunny, the pitch was perfect and the fans were amazing. It was so difficult. Honestly, I almost cried when I was at the stadium.

“I would never want anything bad to happen to the team but of course I was jealous. I wanted to play.”

Surgery in Spain followed before Ekstrand was able to return to Sweden to spend three weeks with his family and work with a physio in Malmo.

He admits that that time helped him to clear his mind even if it didn’t necessarily make him happy. Back in England Watford were surging towards promotion.

Ekstrand could only watch as the Hornets sealed a top two finish in the Championship and began preparing for life in the top flight.

“It was difficult watching the guys prepare for the Premier League. They were working hard in pre-season, interesting players were coming in and the training ground was being improved. “It was tough but I didn’t think of it as a negative. I used the changes and improvements as a carrot, thinking I can thrive when I got back.

“I knew everything would be different but your body and mind adapt to your situation.

“When I look back things were very different to when I was deep in rehab.

“I was simply focused. I thought ‘if I do this now it will help me get to this point later on’. I knew I wasn’t the first person to have this injury and I won’t be the last.

“Yes, it’s a big injury but it happens a lot in football. I know most players come back from it. What changes is your daily life. Instead of going out onto the pitch you go to the gym instead.

“I have to take my hat off to Mike Spanou, the physio. He has been with me every day and I am not the easiest person to be with every day.

“He has been outstanding. I really can’t stress that enough. I appreciate everything he has done for me.”

With Spanou’s dedicated help, in addition to support from friends, family and a number of teammates, Ekstrand was able to begin light training in December.

He was soon working with the first-team squad and had a new manager to impress in Quique Sanchez Flores.

Ekstrand, despite not having played for the Spaniard, seemingly has won over Flores.

Watford Observer: Watford’s head coach has often praised the Swedish centre-back’s attitude and quality. Something Ekstrand is pleased to hear.

“I only have good things to say about him as a manager and a person and it is nice to hear he is speaking nicely about me.

“That has been my goal. Going back into training after my injury, the aim was to impress him and my teammates.”

Ekstrand’s recovery saw him play in two of the club’s Under-21 matches last month. In the second of those, against Boreham Wood, he picked up a small hamstring problem.

It was a minor setback and one he expected. Having not played for ten months he accepts it will take time for his muscles to adjust to the rigours of first-team football.

But he remains optimistic of playing in the Premier League before the end of the campaign.

“When I am fit I will compete against everyone else. I want to give something to the team and for the club. I love being here. Everyone knows that.”

Whether Ekstrand remains at Vicarage Road beyond this summer, however, is a question nobody can answer.

His current contract expires in the summer. He says informal talks have taken place but nothing official has been put on the table.

He wants to stay. That much is evident.

“I have been here for almost four years. I think everyone knows, from the club to the fans, that I really love it here.

“On the pitch and off the pitch it has been great. Reaching the Premier League was always the target and I would like to stay and achieve a dream of playing Premier League football.

“I still think I have a lot to give Watford. Of course I want to stay but in football you never know.”

Arguably it’s the unseen, perhaps forgotten, injured players whose resolve and commitment to return to the big time truly encapsulates the spirit and resolve of proven professionals.

Whether it’s a return to Premier League football, a return to fitness or simply a return of self-confidence and self-esteem it can be a long journey of discovery.

For Ekstrand that freak injury in March 2015 was initially the stuff of nightmares.

Now the joyous dream of full recovery – and the chance to prove himself once again – could be just a few games away.