Yannick Bolasie admits that an early return from injury affected his Everton form.
Bolasie sealed a season-loan loan move to Aston Villa in the summer after struggling to hold down a regular first-team place at Goodison Park.
The DR Congo winger spent over 12 months on the sidelines due to a knee injury sustained during a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in December 2016.
And Bolasie, 29, has conceded that his Boxing Day comeback against West Brom last year had a detrimental effect on his level of performance for the Blues.
“Looking back, I came back too early,” he told Express and Star.
“I rushed back because I wanted to play a lot more minutes. I played more minutes at Everton when I came back than I have at Villa so far.
“But now I’ve done it the right way and I’m starting to see the rewards.
“I’m confident in my body now and able to deal with the training sessions.”
Since joining Villa, Bolasie has made 10 substitute appearances for the Championship outfit in which he has recorded two goals and an assist.
But despite failing to make a start for Dean Smith’s side, he believes that the staggered start to his career in the Midlands is already proving beneficial.
“I feel it in myself, in my body. I’m getting more confidence,” Bolasie added.
“I’m just grateful that Villa have given me the chance to get up to that level. I’ve been building up from the start – since I came to Villa.
“I didn’t have a pre-season. I didn’t do anything. I had to build myself up and that always meant it would be a slow start.
“There was a time where I wasn’t even running. But I’m getting there slowly and I’m just happy about that.
“I think I’m close now but when I first came I was nowhere near the level that I should be at.”