Mix Diskerud said that he is in shape and ready to help Swedish side IFK Goteborg -- even if it "took some zen to deal with" the events that led him overseas and back to playing his first league match in over eight months.
The U.S. international's last appearance in a competitive league match came on June 15 of last year, when New York City FC fell in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup to the NASL's New York Cosmos.
Then in December of 2016, Patrick Vieira replaced Jason Kreis as manager and made it clear that Diskerud wasn't in his future plans.
Now, the 26-year-old is on loan to the Swedish side until Aug. 27 in what he hopes will earn him a return to NYCFC.
He briefly saw action over the weekend in Goteborg's 2-1 loss to Norrkoping, but said a return to action has more to do with earning the trust of the coaching staff.
"Physically I'm fit. But who trusts a guy that has been prevented from even making the bench in half a year, to go straight in to battle -- a battle that could have lasted 90+30?" Diskerud told The Telegraph.
He said that the loss clouded over whatever happiness he could have in a return to action.
"I was given seven minutes plus whatever extra time minutes the ref allowed -- chasing an equaliser. We didn't get it. So there was no joy," he said."No joy on my part either -- even though I got some good feedback. This team is given the resources and trust to win these kind of matches. Joy will soon come -- when we do."
Diskerud scored NYCFC's first ever goal -- against Orlando City in March 2015. Two years later, the club exercised its option to buy out his contract and are now obligated to pay his salary.
MLS rules stipulate that a team can buy out one guaranteed contract per year, and since NYCFC notified the league prior to the March 1 roster compliance deadline, Diskerud's contract -- which last year saw him earn $761,250 -- will not count against the team's salary budget.
Asked by The Telegraph whether he had other options with another U.S. club, Diskerud said only: "Yes and no."
He added that he is committed to Goteborg's success but believes he can return to MLS action.
"I have been here before, I know their exceptional proud history, and it would be thrilling to be a part of their climb back up," he said.
Asked whether he felt he had a future at NYCFC, he only said: "Yes."
Finally, Diskerud bristled at The Telegraph's question regarding a "return" to the U.S. national team.
"I am committed, devoted and infatuated to the whole idea of that team. If I accept your premise, at least once, I must have had left it," he said.