Nico Yennaris said it felt good to play only his second 90 minutes of the season, and his first since July.
The full back has missed much of the season with back and thigh injuries but played a full match for Brentford’s Development Squad against Swansea City on Monday.
The Bees were beaten 4-1 but Nico scored the goal and said he had come through the match unscathed, his first 90 minutes since a pre-season friendly against OGC Nice in late July.
“It feels good to get a full game,” said Nico, speaking to Bees Player.
“The coaches were asking me how I was after 75 or 80 minutes but it was nice to get the 90 minutes under my belt.
“I said to myself that even if I was tired I wanted to get through.
“It is something to work on.
“I can push on from here.”
Nico picked up a back injury in the Capital Cup One win over Dagenham and Redbridge in August and then a thigh injury after returning in a Development Squad fixture against Colchester United in mid-September.
He returned a month later and had eased his way up to 90 minutes with Development Squad games and First Team training.
Nico has been on the bench in recent Sky Bet Championship games and said he now wanted to push for a starting place.
“The back injury was a strange one, I was out for longer than I thought,” he said.
“I then played in a Development Squad game and pulled my thigh.
“That kept me out for another three weeks.
“It has been frustrating but the medical team has helped me get back.
“I want to stay fit now and push for a place.
“It has been hard with the games.
“I might be on the bench for the First Team and then involved in the Development Squad games so it’s been trying to find the balance with training and match fitness.
“They have sorted out a programme to keep me fit and do what is best to help me get up to match fitness as quick as I can.”
Brentford fell behind at Swansea when England international Jonjo Shelvey weaved his way through and James Tarkowski’s tackle put the ball in to his own net.
Nico equalised but Shelvey restored the lead and Swansea scored two more after half time.
Swansea had an experienced team out, with other First Team players as well as Shelvey, and Nico said it would help a young Brentford side to compete against the Premier League outfit.
“I thought we used the ball well at times, despite the result,” he said.
“We were playing a good team.
“This will be a good learning curve for the players and we have to keep going.
“We had a few younger players in the team.
“The younger boys can learn.
“It was nice, personally, to get on the score sheet.”
Nico said his goal was among the best he had scored at any level.
He smashed the ball home from 25 yards with his left foot.
“Aaron Green crossed the ball and it took a deflection out,” said Nico.
“It sat up nicely and the defender came out to me.
“I faked and cut on my left and aimed for the back post.
“The rest is history.
“I haven’t scored in a senior game, in Under-21 football that was up there with my best.”
Swansea included Shelvey and Swedish winger Modou Barrow – 24 hours after appearing in the Premier League against Arsenal, as well as First Team squad members Josh Sheehan, Adam King and Rory Donnelly.
“It is always good to play against First Team players,” said Nico.
“I have come across Jonjo before; I know what he is about.
“I told the lads he likes to spread the ball and we have to not give him time on the ball.
“It was a good test for everyone.
“Their winger played against Arsenal yesterday.
“Playing against senior pros is a good test.”
Nico was an unused substitute as Brentford made it three Sky Bet Championship wins in a row against Millwall on Saturday.
The Bees sit sixth in the table after 17 games and have players including Nico, Sam Saunders, Tommy Smith and Stuart Dallas returning to the squad after injury.
“Everyone is positive,” said Nico.
“There is a great vibe and we have had a great week.
“We all believe in each other.
“We have a good squad and players coming back from injury.
“We have strength in depth and everyone is upbeat.
“It’s good.”
Bees Player subscribers can see an interview with Nico Yennaris here.