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In the week leading up to Wimbledon Andy Murray used to suffer an annual outbreak of stress-induced mouth ulcers. 

'They are a painful reminder of the time of year,' he wrote in his book, 77, that came out following his first triumph at the All England Club in 2013.

Judging by his words on Saturday, looking ahead to the next fortnight, they will not have been an issue this time round. Perhaps having a bad hip for all this time may come with some small consolations. 

Andy Murray will make the latest instalment of his comeback from injury at Wimbledon

The British player has been through nearly eleven months of painstaking rehabilitation

'Wimbledon for me is obviously special for a lot of reasons. I always want to be here competing,' he said. 'It feels a little bit odd coming into the tournament this year. 

'Normally at this stage I feel really nervous, lots of pressure, and I expect a lot of myself around this time of year. I've always loved that, and enjoyed that in a way. It has been difficult, but I've enjoyed it, whereas this year it feels very, very different.'

On Tuesday we will witness the latest instalment of his comeback when he faces Frenchman Benoit Paire, who he beat in the fourth round a year ago before limping out of the last eight.

Murray has been through nearly eleven months of painstaking rehabilitation, almost half of it turning out to have been wasted as he tried to avoid the surgical option.

He made clear why he has continued to push himself in the quest to use the few remaining years that he might be able to compete at the highest level.

Some men at his stage, already laden with titles and more money than they will ever need, might have succumbed to thoughts of domestic bliss. He could have packed away the suitcase and racket bag and spent more time at home with wife Kim and their two daughters while pursuing other interests.

Yet this is something he is clearly not ready to settle for. It is a reminder that, above all, the great players are in love with the game.

Murray won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016 but there were doubts over his participation this year

'If I had to stop tomorrow I'd be pretty gutted with that because I still love playing, I love the sport,' said Murray. 'I enjoy watching it. I enjoy the travelling. There's nothing about it that I'd be looking forward to sort of giving up really.

'I want to keep playing as long as I can, providing I'm physically capable of doing that, and not in a lot of pain and discomfort.'

And so he ploughs on, into the biggest fortnight of the year, which has greeted him with a treacherous first week draw.

Yet make no mistake, there is not a player he will meet who will relish playing the double champion — who has also made the semi-finals or better another five times.It is not just that he is one of the few players who feels comfortable on the surface, but the doubts that will gnaw away inside opponents' heads about how equipped he is to last a best-of-five match.

Murray will take on Frenchman Benoit Paire, world No 48, in the first round at Wimbledon

This can throw some players off, and Murray will be aware of this. While again declaring that he expects to play, barring any unexpected setbacks, he emphasised the day-to-day nature of his progress, adding: 'In terms of how I would fare, how I would do in the tournament results-wise, I have no idea.'

There is not much to go on, and he has always been careful not to give any specific details about the nature of his hip problem.

One credible source believes he has had at least one injection in recent weeks to aid his movement, but this has not been confirmed.

What is clear enough in the three matches he has come through since a week last Tuesday is that he can still hit the ball extremely cleanly.

'I don't think I played amazing in the matches, but I think I've done well, considering the opponents, the level of the guys that I've played against,' said Murray.

'There's certain things that are still tricky, and things I'm still trying to work through.

'These things are significantly better than what they were a few months ago.'

Off the court Murray has stepped back from the game's politics, on Friday relinquishing his place on the ATP Player Council.

Murray should enjoy plenty of goodwill within the locker room on his comeback. He is respected by his peer group, who regard him as one of their most articulate spokesmen and leading thinkers.

Whether he remains one of the leading players is something it may take many months to find out, and the answer may well not come in the next two weeks.