Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby knows what is ailing him - and admits he's ready for what lies ahead.

Crosby is dealing with a treatable soft-tissue neck injury and has no qualms with the team's medical staff.

"I think the biggest thing to take from it is that it's something I can work on. I can come in and get my neck worked on," Crosby said on Tuesday.

"There's a pretty big possibility that could be causing some of the issues, so I really hope that's the case and hope with some treatment that it'll improve and that's hopefully the end of it."

Crosby has returned to skating, but admits he is not where he needs to be at this point.

The 2007 NHL MVP does not have a timetable for a return. He has not played since Dec. 5.

Crosby had been sidelined for 10 1/2 months before making a dramatic return to the lineup on Nov. 21, scoring two goals and adding two assists versus the New York Islanders.

The 24-year-old Nova Scotia native collected two goals and 10 assists in eight contests since returning from his original injury in January 2011.