Craig Bryson made his long-awaited comeback from injury on Monday afternoon - and he’s determined to put a personally frustrating start to the season behind him.
The 28-year-old Scotland international midfielder played the full 90 minutes as Derby’s Under 21 side defeated Newcastle United 6-4 at the Training Centre in partnership with the University of Derby in a Barclays Under 21 Premier League Division 2 fixture.
Bryson sustained a medial ligament injury in the early stages of Derby’s 0-0 draw at Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the season following a positive pre-season campaign.
After a spell in the treatment room - prolonged by some pain in his knee as he stepped up his rehabilitation programme - Derby’s 2011/12 and 2013/14 Player of the Season hit the comeback trail earlier this month by resuming training.
He views getting the full game under his belt this afternoon as a big step in the right direction.
He told Rams Player HD: “It’s good to be back on the pitch and after six weeks of pre-season to tear my medial ligament on the opening day, inside the first few minutes, was not ideal.
“When I first got injured we thought it would be a few weeks but it turned out to be a little longer than we expected.
“I’ve had a few injections to ease the pain which was holding me back in recent weeks and things look a lot more positive for me.”
On the game itself he added: “It was frantic which in a way might help me; I got a lot of running in so that’s minutes and yards in the bank.
“It was nice to score as well and also pleasing to see the Under 21 lads continue their good run of form.”
Bryson is now looking to get more minutes under his belt in order to regain match sharpness.
The 2011 signing from Kilmarnock knows he still has plenty of hard work to get through as he edges towards a first-team return.
“It has been a struggle personally because I want to play football and help Derby County get promoted this season,” he said.
“It was nice to be involved in a match situation but I know plenty of work is ahead of me to get back up to speed before I’m back in the first team.
“It’s a case of getting match-sharp again and doing the things that come naturally when you’re on the pitch such as getting into position and your movement.
“It was great to get 90 minutes under my belt and that will stand me in good stead but it was hard work; I was blowing a bit!
“You can do as much training as you like but it doesn’t replicate a game situation and what you get from it.”
Bryson is relishing the prospect of battling for a first-team spot once again.
Bradley Johnson and Jacob Butterfield have bolstered Derby’s midfield options during his absence, providing further competition for a place in Paul Clement’s side.
However, Bryson is ready to tackle the challenge head on.
He said: “We’ve signed some quality players in midfield since I got injured so I know it’s a battle to get into the team, just like it was at the start of the season.
“The lads are flying at the minute and that is great to see; the Chairman has invested really well and the ambition the club has is fantastic.
“I wanted to give the new Head Coach a selection headache and be in his plans so it has been frustrating for me but that’s gone now.
“I’ve got my head down, worked hard and with a few more matches under my belt hopefully I’ll be back in contention.
“It’s down to me to impress and force my way back into the Head Coach’s plans because as a professional you want to train and play - not be sat on the treatment table.”
