By James Standley

Harrison has not fought since beating Nedal Hussein in November

Scott Harrison is ready to return to action and confound the critics who said he would never box again.

By the time of his next fight, against Nicky Cook on 9 December, the WBO featherweight champion will have been out of the ring for more than a year.

During the last 12 months the Scottish fighter has been charged with assault, fraud and breaching the peace, as well as undergoing treatment for depression and alcohol problems at The Priory.

But the 29-year-old insists he has got his problems under control and is fully focused on Cook.

"I just turn things into a positive and use it to motivate myself," he told BBC Sport.

"People can try and bring me down for no good reason but I'm looking forward to getting back to where I should be - defending world titles."

Harrison would not talk about anything other than boxing, but his promoter Frank Warren was more forthcoming.

I think he'll try to box and move because it'll be suicidal if he tries to fight me Harrison on Cook

"He's been working very hard, obviously preparing for the fight but also working hard on other issues in his life, and I commend him for it," Warren said.

"I think what he's done and what he's doing at the moment he's a brave man to do and he should be really proud of himself for where he is today."

HARRISON FACT FILE Born: 19/8/1977 Turned pro: 1996 Division: Featherweight Record: 29-26-2-1 14 KOs Alias: The Real McCoy Height: 5ft 7ins Trainer: Peter Harrison Promoter: Frank Warren

Cook brings a record of 26 wins in 26 fights to the table, including 15 KOs.

But Harrison dismissed the suggestion that his style was "made for" Cook.

"At the end of the day I couldn't care less if he says my style is made for him," Harrison said.

"There've been a lot of fighters in the past who've said my style's made for them and I've knocked them out in two or three rounds, six rounds, eight rounds, whatever.

"He's got a plan, but they all say that, don't they.

"They've all got a plan to beat me but once they get in there reality hits them and the plan goes right out the window.

"I don't see it going 12 rounds but he'll give us a decent fight probably up to a few rounds.

"I think he'll try and box and move, box and move, box and move, because it'll be suicidal if he tries to fight me.

"It's going to be a genuine fight. No joking, this is serious stuff."

And Harrison is adamant that his enforced break from the ring has, instead of blunting his edge, done him good.

"I've been fighting constantly since I was about 15 or 16 years old," he said.

"I turned professional at 18, won my first title at 21, my first world title at 25 and I've been defending it ever since.

"I've been champion four years and this will be my 12th defence.

"I've been constantly busy, so because I've been out of the ring for a year it's made me very focused.

"I feel completely refreshed. I usually train for seven or eight weeks before a fight and this time I'll have been training for 17 weeks.