Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy admits he was worried he’d never play again after his injury nightmare.
McCarthy, 28, made his first Premier League start of the season to help Palace to a 2-1 win at West Ham last time out.
The summer signing from Everton has been plagued by injuries over the past few years, which included a double leg break in January 2018.
But the Irish international showed he is heading back to his best against the Hammers and is hoping to show what he can do once he gets fully match fit.
“It was good to be back out there,” he told Palace TV. “I felt we done well, we competed well and felt we were deserved winners.
“Yeah it’s been a long time. Obviously you start to think a bit, you start to think, ‘Am I going to play another game?’ Listen, I have come here and the boys have been brilliant to me, the gaffer’s been brilliant with me.
“It’s a good bunch of boys, I’m delighted to be here and I want to get as many games as I can but it took a wee bit of time to get my fitness.
“Now I look to kick on again and try to get as many games from now until the end of the season and stay fit.”