Josh Magennis has given his first interview after signing a one-year contract extension at the end of the 24/25 season.
Back in for pre-season as he recovers from the hip injury that ended last season early, Josh is raring to get back to fitness and stated he still enjoys it as much as he did when he first put on a pair of football boots.
Speaking about returning from injury, Josh said: "It's been tough. It's sort of been different for me. Obviously as I'm still continuing rehab. So it's still pre-season but a different type, but I'm just enjoying to be back out here with the lads.
"I had a long standing hip injury, sort of for the past four years and I was able to manage it with injections and painkillers, but in and around Christmas time it just got to the stage where the painkillers and injections weren't working anymore. So it was just more the case to make sure that we were in a position where I could go and get surgery. And that happened sort of towards the end of last season. So I managed to go under the knife on the 9th and I think that'd be about 12 to 16 weeks in total. So I don't think it's a better time to do it over pre-season. So it worked out pretty well."
Josh explained that it was an easy decision to extend his stay down in Devon: "The environment that I came into at the start of the season was exactly what the gaffer said. I had a platform that I could play and sort of help the team, not just on the pitch, but off the pitch. And when the opportunity came to extend, it was an easy decision for me to make."
Josh ranks his time at Exeter City as one of the best so far in his career. "It's one of the best in terms of the fans, how the manager wants you to be with the staff, and the open and the honest nature. That's what the gaffer said he wanted when we came into the club and that's been sort of a staple since I've signed here, playing with younger players, I'm sort of used to playing with senior pros and people your own age. So having to adapt in the environment and sort of change your outlook and how you're playing, it's challenged me in many ways - not just on the pitch, but off the pitch and it's been brilliant. Obviously I'm looking into my coaching now as well, the club's helped me with that massively.
"I'm always looking for new challenges and I'm trying to progress my game. You know, I'm not a polished diamond. And that's what I'm looking to do this season and then sort of seasons after that."
Hear more from Josh below: