Sunderland midfielder Jan Kirchhoff has aired his delight after making his return to the field following a six-week layoff with a hamstring injury.
The 26-year-old was stretchered off during the second half of the Black Cats' 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion in early October, ruling him out of action for two months.
Kirchhoff is now closing in on a first-team return for the second time this season, having been given a 90-minute run-out for Sunderland's Under-23s in their victory over Manchester United on Monday evening.
"It's always good for me because it was a long time ago," he told the club's official website. "I've had a lot of injuries this year and I feel like this is my third pre-season now so I'm pleased to be back on the pitch and pleased to be healthy and fit.
"To be injured isn't nice because you can't help the guys on the pitch every weekend. Just not being part of the squad isn't the best feeling but that's how football is sometimes. You have a little bit of bad luck and I think when I played the 90 minutes before maybe it was a little bit too early after my long injury.
"For me the only thing that counts now is trying to stay fit, improve my fitness levels and stay healthy, they're the most important things."
Sunderland have won back-to-back games in the Premier League to climb to within three points of safety.
Daniel Lewis
