"It was a terrible pre-season for me because I picked up the thigh injury just one week after we came back. That's two years in a row now I've missed pre-season and it was very disappointing," he told the club website.
And with Stephen Warnock's hugely impressive start to the season, Traore is under no illusion as to the stiff competition ahead of him.
"It's going to be hard to get into the team though because we now have two or three good players for every position and that's good for the manager. At left back there's me, Stevie Warnock and John Arne Riise. It's the same all over the field as well. All we can do is work hard and see who the manager chooses for each game," Traore said.
He added, "I've worked as hard as I can to come back as quickly as possible and I'm pleased to be fit again now. I just need more games to improve my match fitness and my confidence."