LONDON (AFP) - Rio Ferdinand plans to repay a debt of honour to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for standing by him when he returns from his eight month ban for missing a drugs test against Liverpool on Monday.
"There is definitely a debt of honour to repay the boss and I intend to repay him by putting in top-class performances," he told the Daily Express.
And the 30 million pound defender has brushed aside fears he will be rusty when he returns to Premiership action.
"I`ve been doing extra training and have probably worked harder than I did when I was playing because you are not keeping back energy for games," he said.
"I have been training harder than ever so that when I do return, I can hit the ground running.
"I really started training with a purpose when we came back for pre-season.
"The club brought in a new fitness coach, Valter di Salvo, and because I have not been playing he has been running me into the ground.
"He has worked at Lazio and Real Madrid so he has worked with the best - and we all feel comfortable and confident in what we are doing.
"The training will hopefully pay off later in the season - now I just can`t wait to start playing again."
United have struggled in the absence of the 25-year-old, but he does not believe he is to blame for the club`s dip in form.
"I don`t think I let the side down," he said.
"It was a mistake I made and one which has proved very costly, but at a club like United we are expected to cope with anyone missing from the team.
"Other people were injured and suspended, so to put it down to just me is the easy way out."
United finished third behind Arsenal and Chelsea last term and failed to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, losing to Joe Mourinho`s Porto. They are currently 11th in the table, nine points behind unbeatable Arsenal.
But he admitted the wait had been long.
"It has been very frustrating to be out for as long as I have been, no matter if you are out injured or because of my situation.
"I want to be out there helping the team - but I knew the situation I was in and just said to myself ôI have got to deal with it`."
But he said the hoped to have learnt from the enforced wait.
"I have also been able to analyse my game and try to improve on things," he added. "When I come back, hopefully people will see a much better player."
But he admits the ban, for what he calls a piece of forgetfulness, still hurt.
"I`m not asking anyone to feel sorry for me. I`m just telling it as it was. I still feel I was unjustly treated but how long can you stay angry for?" he told The Sun.
But he admitted he did not know if he would start the Old Trafford match.
"Whether or not I`m picked to play against Liverpool it is a big moment," he said.
"I cannot tell you how much I`ve been looking forward to this day."