Gabriel Jesus says he is still feeling the effects of his period out with Covid-19 as he gave an honest assessment of his form this season.
Jesus was frustrated throughout Manchester City's FA Cup win at Cheltenham, missing one glorious chance in particular, but he controlled a forward Fernandinho ball perfectly to fire home and put the Blues ahead late on and spare a high-profile cup upset.
The Brazilian hasn't started consecutive City games in the side's last ten outings, and has seen his season disrupted by injury and isolation. His goal at Cheltenham was his first in five games and only his second in 13, but Jesus says he is currently working hard to get back to full fitness after contracting Covid at the turn of the year.
"I'm coming back from Covid, this season is not easy for me," he told BBC Sport.
"It's difficult because in the first game of the season I get injured. So was s*** for me, after when I start to play, Covid, so now I have to get back my rhythm, my power to try to play and help like I did this year."
Reflecting on City's frustrations against Cheltenham, which saw them fall behind on the hour mark after Alfie May fired home from a long throw until Phil Foden's 81st minute equaliser.
He explained: "A long time I was like this when I was young and had to get a bus for hours to play football. It's easy for me, for every boy. We have to come to play to win. They played good, we know it was going to be difficult.
"They had a power throw-in, free kicks, corners, everything. It's difficult, they try and we win the game.
"Yeah [it was difficult], they are so good on this but sometimes you have to suffer to try to work hard and come back stronger like we did."
