Richard Lee said he felt good after coming through 90 minutes for Brentford’s Development Squad against Millwall on Saturday.
The Bees played their first game in the new Professional Development League for Under-21 teams in South London on Saturday and were beaten 3-0.
Every team is allowed to field three over-age players and an over-age goalkeeper in each match so Richard could play.
He said Brentford Manager Uwe Rösler had suggested he play to try and get 90 minutes as he aims to recover from “niggly injuries” that have affected him.
“I needed 90 minutes,” said Richard, speaking to Bees Player.
“It has not been an ideal pre-season for me, with niggly injuries.
“This game was perfect for me.
“The Manager suggested I get 90 minutes and I feel good, there has been no reaction.
“I was really pleased, it was a good test.
“I approached it like any game.”
Simon Moore has started Brentford’s first two competitive games – against Walsall and Bury – and Richard said he would have to work hard to get his place back.
He said Uwe and Head of Medical Neil Greig had worked to make sure he was ready to resume First Team football.
“Simon has been fantastic,” said Richard.
“I don’t expect to walk straight back in.
“I’d like to think my performances over the past few years have been very good so an opportunity will present itself and my job is to be ready for when that comes.
“I have to give credit to Neil, and I spoke to him and the Manager.
“I want to play in the First Team but I have been getting through training rather than feeling good.
“They have been very understanding.
“My aim is to get back to my peak and if I do that I like to think I’ll get myself back in.”
The Bees conceded three first half goals in the defeat to Millwall.
Richard said the game was good for him and he didn’t feel there was much between the teams.
“I don’t think we were that far behind them,” said the goalkeeper.
“The game was decided by a couple of individual mistakes.
“It’s a great learning exercise for the young lads.
“We got at them in the second half, their keeper made a couple of saves.
“There is a good future ahead for a few of these lads.
“I conceded three goals but I didn’t think there was much I could do.”
Development Squad Manager Jon De Souza said he was disappointed with his team but agreed there was little to separate the sides.
“I was disappointed,” he confirmed.
“Having said that, if you take the three goals away, I don’t think there was much between the teams.
“But, football is about goals and we conceded those three.
“I was disappointed in the way we defended first half.
“All three goals came when we didn’t re-organise properly.
“If you don’t defend properly you lose games.
“That’s what disappointed me most, they didn’t open us up.”
Jon said he told his players they had to match the fight of the opposition if they wanted to win games.
“I got in to the boys a little bit at the break,”.
“I said it wasn’t acceptable.
“I told the lads they had to match the fight and then show your ability.
“I don’t think we matched them until the end.
“We had a few younger players playing today and it’s about their learning curve.
“We had to try and score goals.
“We were better second half but we were 3-0 down and never really looked like we were attempting to get back in to the game.”
Interviews with Richard and Jon are available on Bees Player here and here.