Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has warned the rest of the Premier League that they have yet to see him at his best.
The Ivory Coast forward stepped up his recovery from groin surgery with a 30-minute cameo in the 3-1 Community Shield defeat to Manchester United at Wembley.
While Drogba accepts the Chelsea squad - many of whom have just returned to training after the World Cup - still have some work to do in terms of reaching full match fitness, the 32-year-old feels his long-standing injury niggle is now in the past.
"It was a hernia, and for the last six years I have been struggling with it," said Drogba, who collected the golden boot last season with 29 goals.
"I couldn't really work, it was difficult sometimes for me to play some games. I also had to miss some training sessions.
"Now I am really happy because it has gone and I feel more free.
"No more tension in the abductors. You know it is really good for me. I am really happy that I had it (surgery)."
Drogba, who joined Chelsea in a £24million deal from Marseille in 2004, continued: "I learned how to play with it, how to deal with it.
"Sometimes last year I needed some tablets to play. Now I am not even asking. It is a good feeling.
"I had to adapt my game to it, so now maybe I will have to change my game again.
"I don't know if I can do better than last year, but the thing is I will feel better, more free in my movements on the pitch.
"I will feel much better and will be happy to have the same season as last year."
