Richard Lee said it was nice to be involved in a game of football for the first time in around four months, even one abandoned after 55 minutes.
Richard played for Brentford’s Development Squad in a friendly against Maidenhead United on Tuesday night.
The game was called off just after half time due to the pitch being waterlogged.
Richard has been out with a shoulder injury and has not played a game of any sort since a Capital One Cup penalty shoot-out win over Dagenham and Redbridge in August.
“It felt good to get a game,” he said.
“It wasn’t the best game, the conditions didn’t help and we couldn’t get a great deal out of it.
“But in parts I thought we played well and it was nice to be involved in a game of football again.”
Richard had shoulder surgery in the summer of 2013 and had a recurrence earlier this year.
He said the Brentford medical team had now got him to a position where he could train and was building up the strength in the area.
“It has been a bit stop-start,” said Richard.
“I had a recurrence in my shoulder injury.
“I feel good again and the physios have done a great job.
“They have got me back in to a state where I feel alright.
“I am trying to strengthen it.
“I have had major surgery on it and to get to the strength required to play professional football is difficult.
“At the moment I am doing a lot of gym work, a lot of hours with Simon Royce, getting used to making full stretch saves at pace.
“It is difficult but I am getting there.”
Richard said currently he was struggling to make saves to his right but Head of Medical Neil Greig and Physiotherapist Richard Clark were working with him to build his shoulder up.
He said he was training with Goalkeeper Coach Simon Royce but playing a match was different and it was good to be involved.
Richard added he had belief there would be a way to overcome his problem.
“I have good days and bad days,” he said.
“I can’t praise the physios enough, they have been excellent, but it is frustrating as I know I haven’t got the ability to make a save to my right with power.
“As a goalkeeper that is essential.
“I am confident if I keep working hard in the gym and change my approach I can get it back to what it was.
“I know I am in great hands with Richard Clark and Neil Grieg so hopefully that will be the case.
“I believe there is always another way.
“I might not have found the answer yet but there will be an answer.
“The physios are great with this as well, they keep looking for ways to make a difference to get to the strength required to play Championship football.
“I will keep trying and keep playing when I can.
“This is a different fitness, I work with Simon Royce and do drills but that is different to being behind a back four and organising.
“It was nice to get 60 minutes or so doing that even if it was not in the best conditions.
“I will take the positives from that and move on.”
Richard said he did not expect any issues after Tuesday’s match.
“I will be fine because I didn’t make any saves,” he said
“I need to get to the point where I can train fully every day without the risk of a twinge of the sharp pain I get.
“I know what the goal is; I need to find a way.
“I have come through the game; I want to get to the point where I can make lots of saves and still be fine.”
Brentford were 2-0 down when the game was called off but Maidenhead only had a couple of efforts at goal.
Maidenhead’s first goal was headed in from close range and the second, the last action of the match, came when a cross was turned goal wards and beat Richard but was heading wide before it stuck in a puddle and was poked home.
Brentford dominated the play but could not score.
“I didn’t have a lot to do,” said Richard.
“My distribution was fine, I had no chance on the goal, or goals, I don’t know if the second one counts.
“We kept the ball well, didn’t manage to score but dictated the game.
“It was nice to organise and play out from the back.”
Richard added: “The referee was right to call it off when he did.
“When the ball was played across the six-yard box and stops dead for someone to tap in, it was the right decision.
“Another ten or 15 minutes could have destroyed the pitch.”
Although he has not played much Richard has been around the Brentford camp all season and said he was loving what was happening at Griffin Park.
Richard said he liked working with Bees Player on commentaries where he could be part of a match day and watch Brentford’s “superb” football.
“Although it has not been overly positive on a personal level, I love what is going on,” he said.
“The football we play is superb.
“I love working on Bees Player, it is great to be involved in some way.
“I am enjoying the quick progression we are making.
“It would be interesting to see how far we can go.
“Our belief is growing and we may be able to challenge for things.”
A full video interview with Richard Lee is available here for Bees Player subscribers.