Brentford Club Captain Kevin O’Connor said it was great to be playing competitive 11-a-side football again.
The skipper played his first 90 minutes for more than four months in Brentford’s Development Squad game against Queens Park Rangers yesterday.
The Bees lost the Under-21 Professional Development League Two South match 4-2 but Kevin came through unscathed.
Kevin picked up a serious ankle injury in a match against Portsmouth in early November and has been through a lengthy rehabilitation.
He made his first appearance in a 4-2 win over Charlton Athletic in the Development Squad league last Monday and played 90 minutes against QPR.
“I feel good,” said the skipper.
“I am disappointed we lost, I don’t think we played well.
“But, on the positive, I got 90 minutes and I feel fine.
“In the second half I kept going and felt good.
“I could tell last week I had played a game, I haven’t done that for a long time.
“But there were no major issues, just a little wear and tear, a bit of tiredness.
“It was good to have those feelings.
“A few aches and pains shows you are playing again, it’s good.
“Playing 11 v 11, especially against QPR, unfortunately we lost, but it’s great to get out there, be around it and get the feel for it.”
Kevin played 62 minutes at right back against Charlton last week and started the match against QPR in the centre of midfield.
He switched to the centre of defence after half time, playing in a sweeper role.
Kevin said he played a similar position in the Capital One Cup tie against Walsall in August after The Bees were reduced to ten men and he felt comfortable with it.
He admitted, however, that Brentford did not defend well against QPR.
They conceded in the first two minutes when a cross reached the far post and fell 2-1 down when a free kick was volleyed home from close range.
QPR scored a third seconds in to the second half when a hopeful ball forward looped in and added a fourth when a free kick wasn’t cleared.
Goals from Sam Griffiths and Lee Hodson could not give Brentford anything.
“It was good to play at the back,” said Kevin, speaking to Bees Player after the match.
“We did it at Walsall earlier in the season when we went down to ten men.
“It was fine, comfortable, but we are disappointed with the result.
“The goals we conceded today were disappointing, all four of them.
“If you concede goals like that you won’t win a game.
“Everyone is disappointed after the result.
“I thought Charlton last week were better than QPR and we did more than enough to win last week, which we did.
“We didn’t get going today, for whatever reason.
“I don’t know if conditions played a part – it was really windy and possibly the coldest game I have ever played in – but there are no excuses.”
Brentford have eight npower League One games to play, the first of which is against Notts County on Friday, March 29.
They then play the next seven in 29 days including a game against Milton Keynes Dons three days after the County clash and midweek games against Crewe Alexandra and Sheffield United.
Kevin said he is ready if Manager Uwe Rösler needs him.
“I would like to think I’m ready to return,” said Kevin.
“The first game will be hard, no matter how many Under-21 games you play.
“I am here and available and if the Manager wants me he can come and get me.
“We play two games in three days over Easter and have a few Tuesday games.
“The Manager will have to rotate at certain stages so you never know when you’ll be needed.”
A full video interview with Kevin O’Connor is available here for Bees Player subscribers.