National netballer Kasey Evering admits that she misses playing the game and representing her country and is hoping to recover in time from a knee surgery that she underwent in June, to prove her fitness ahead of next year's Commonwealth Games.

Evering, who last represented Jamaica at the 2007 World Netball Championships in New Zealand, sustained damage to her meniscus and ACL earlier this year and has since been receiving treatment from noted physiotherapist Maureen Spence-Campbell.

She is expected to be out of action for the rest of the year, but is hoping she will be back to her best before the start of the Games, scheduled for New Delhi, India, in October 2010.

Said Evering: "I would really like to work in myself and get back some fitness for the Commonwealth Games next year. I really miss the game. I miss playing, jumping up and down, the supporters and all that excitement. I also miss playing in my national colours."

Evering added: "At one point I thought I wouldn't play the game again because I was always getting injured and that was very depressing for me."

However, the towering defender is aware of the difficulties she will face in her attempts to get back on the courts and into the national squad.

"Even though the knee is getting better, I know that I won't be able to play at the same levels that I used to right away because I'm going to be a little timid at first because of fear of hurting the knee again, but the (Commonwealth) Games is all the way in October next year, so I pray to God that that will give me enough time to work myself back into fitness and get over whatever psychological block there may be and get back to myself, " Evering pointed out.

Tough rehabilitation

Evering, who also represented Jamaica at the youth level, described her rehabilitation as the worst experience in her life and is thankful for the encouragement she constantly receives from her friends and supporters.

"It's (injury) very frustrating. This is the most depressing time in my life. There are days when things seem to be improving and other days when it seems to be getting worse and a lot of times I really feel like giving up. I am thankful for those who keep supporting me and telling me not to give up and keep trying hard," said Evering.

"I'm trying to get things back together, get myself back into training and hit the gym so that I can be ready before too long."