Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder admits he is nowhere near his best form since coming back from injury.

Sneijder was stretchered off during the pre-season Emirates Cup tournament with a cruciate ligament injury that sidelined him for three months.

The 24-year-old has returned to action, but the match-winning form from last season is noticeably absent, and Sneijder admits he is troubled by that.

"I'm not happy because I'm not at the level I want to be playing at," he told Spanish sports daily AS. "After the injury that suffered I'm still not at the level I was last year and because of that I don't have reason to be happy and smile a lot.

"I want to play well and then I will be happy.

"I'm very annoyed with myself. I don't feel happy at all.

"When I'm at home I think: 'God, Wesley, what are you doing? You have more quality than what you are showing. You're not playing well. You have to play better in the next game.'

"Honestly I don't deserve to be part of the starting XI. I really believe that."

Sneijder believes the problems still lingering from his injury are now mental rather than physical.

However, he insists that he is working as hard as possible in order to return to his best form.

"I am feeling fine," he continued. "Physically I am fine, I am training phenomenally hard and the only thing missing are performances like last year.

"I know that I have to improve because I have more quality than I'm showing at the moment.

"But it's coming back little by little. I have to improve and recover my form from last year."

Sneijder admits the thought that he will not recover fully has crossed his mind.

He added: "I played very well in Euro 2008 and after, in London, I was injured and out for three months.

"I lost confidence and since then I haven't played well, I can't find my rhythm. I've been trying and I'll continue trying, but if i can't find it...well it's difficult.

"I need a great game."

However, he revealed he has been helped by the support of his team-mates and coach Juande Ramos.

"I talk a lot to my team-mates, with all of them," said Sneijder. "I already know that all the team have faith in me.

"Yesterday Saviola asked for one of my shirts. I gave it to him and Raul who was there to told me: 'I also want one of your shirts, but when you return to your usual form.'

"I understand that I'm not in form and my team-mates know it, they support me and that helps me a lot.

"I'm happy with the coach because he still has faith in me. I thank him for that."