Cape Town - Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla admits he had considered throwing in the towel as his injury woes look like they won't end any time soon.
The Spain international has been out injured since October, and underwent eight operations to rectify an ankle problem that just won't go away.
Cazorla made just eight appearances in the Premier League for Arsene Wenger's side this season, and 11 in all competitions.
And, after watching his Gunners team-mates win a record 13th FA Cup, the 32-year-old conceded he had absolutely no idea when he would be returning to action.
"You feel like throwing in the towel but my desire to play football is above everything," Cazorla told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
"I haven't been given a time-frame. It's very difficult to put a date, but I don't think it will be before five months.
"It's been since October that I last played... I've undergone eight surgeries, the last one (on Monday). I hope that things go better.
"I've had complications since November. I got a bacterial infection in surgery, my bone got infected, the wound would not close and I had a graft done."