"It always goes through your mind when you have an injury that prolongs itself for over a year-and-a-half whether you are ever going to get back to your best," said Kewell.
"I had people behind me who gave me good advice and my family was very supportive as well. That helped keep my confidence up, but it's such a massive relief to be back playing again without any real pain. Sure, there's still a bit there, but we are working hard and it's steadily going away. It is like three or four stone off my shoulders.
"I try not to dwell too much on the past because it was such a bad time, and I'd rather look to the future. But the fans knew throughout the whole of last season what I was going through. They knew at any time that the injury could have gone again and I'd have been set back. There were things I simply couldn't do because of the injuries. I knew it, the manager knew it, but sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself for the team.
"The manager wanted me to perform a role, and that's what I tried to do. I was picked in both the finals we played last season and that shows Benítez has a lot of confidence in me for which I am very grateful. He has given me the opportunities. Now it is time for me to repay him."