Returning midfielder Luciano Civelli says Saturday’s brief substitute appearance during the Blues’ 3-0 home victory over Sheffield United was a special moment for him. The Argentinian was back in action for the senior side for the first time in 23 months after suffering a multi-ligament knee injury in March 2009.

Civelli told the club site: "It was a special moment for me to get some minutes back on the pitch with the first team. I think the gaffer was waiting for a chance like against Sheffield to play me and I'm grateful for the opportunity.

"I have been in the squad and training with the first team since the gaffer has been here and now the next step for me is to get into the team.

"I've been fit since September but did not have a place under the old gaffer and his staff. This is a new opportunity for me and it's a good feeling to be involved again."

Civelli says he wasn't sure why he was training with the reserves group under Roy Keane's management: “I was training with the reserves and nobody explained why, nobody told me the reasons.

“It is what professional players want to do to be involved with the first team and it is not just me that it happened to.

“The new manager appreciates me and it’s made such a big difference to me and the squad I think, and I don’t see it as a coincidence that we have won our last three games.

“We all want to play, and we appreciate that it is not possible. But now we know that we have a chance. It has been a positive change to the club and I am happy to come into work.

“My head has always been strong and now I want to play more minutes. Mr Williams, the surgeon in London, did a very good job and so have all the medical staff.”

The 24-year-old, who is contracted until 2012, paid tribute to the backing he has received from Town’s fans, Portman Road giving the former Banfield man a huge ovation when he took to the field in the 89th minute on Saturday: "I would like to thank the crowd. They have supported me since I have been at the club, when I was injured and now when I am back playing again. It is good for me to have that support."

Photo: Action Images

bluelady added 11:35 - Feb 8 another one clearly not too keen on Keane!
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Karlosfandangal added 11:37 - Feb 8 Like Buses None for so long now we have 2 left sided midfielders. Good luck and I hope for the rest of the season you are given the chance to show the potental you had befroe yougot injured
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FrowsyArmLarry added 11:38 - Feb 8 What Argentinian says gaffer - In fact who says that at all? Clearly all made up.
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hampstead_blue added 11:39 - Feb 8 Chuffed to bits to have him back. He got such a roar every time he touched the ball on Saturday.
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legoman added 11:43 - Feb 8 Scouses say gaffer a lot. Three Karlos!!
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dobbie73 added 11:50 - Feb 8 It may have only been a few minutes but it was great to see Luca back!
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blueherts added 11:51 - Feb 8 Civelli , Martin , O Connor - three good left sided players - All dissed by Keane ... Wow how I hate that eejut so much ... Happy Days ahead
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brian_a_mul added 11:54 - Feb 8 Keane had Luca frozen out of the first team. Its no wonder he diddnt have the confidence. Keane was always questioning his mentality. It sounds as if he diddnt even train with the seniors until PJ arrived. Is that true?
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BotesdaleBlue added 12:18 - Feb 8 I think the full horror of the Keane era is still unfolding with the various comments and events over the past month. Civelli's return is yet another step in banashing the stain he left on our Club. Well done Luca and well done PJ.
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TheRef added 12:19 - Feb 8 with LC and Lm competing forthe left, it can only be healthy for the club, SO'C in the wings, i think we will imptove, just keep it moving PJ, been impressed so far, dont let us all down
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kerryblue added 12:25 - Feb 8 Hopefully he can get his confidence back and he will be like a new signing for us,something Clegg has failed so miserabley to do.
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Bergholtblue added 12:31 - Feb 8 I am still choking on my mouthful of humble pie. I for one had written the lad off. I could not see anyway back from an injury that had taken so long to heal. He was injured when Keane arrived and it looked like Keane (and his back room staff) had no interest in helped with the recuperation back to match fitness. Good luck Luca, take your chance with both hands and show us what we have been missing.

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SouperJim added 12:35 - Feb 8 Fantastic to see him back, the way the fans have stuck with Luca is terrific and is one of the things that makes this club so special.
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devontractorboy added 12:36 - Feb 8 Keane was such a good manager for us wasn't he, he really knew how to motivate!! Luca it's good to have you back son, may you stay injury free and show Keane what a pillock he was!!
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SouperJim added 13:00 - Feb 8 From where I'm standing, Keane doesn't need any help
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Pessimistic added 13:06 - Feb 8 I too am Delighted for Luca. He is a player that really excites me and every week under keane I would chart his progress, only to discover that he was not in the first team picture. He is now though. WELCOME BACK LUCA!!!
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TractorRoyNo1 added 13:20 - Feb 8 LC - a warm welcome back, now make that left side place your own others - i can take the point about Martin who Keane bought but it's a bit rich to blame him for not playing LC, he has been injured for months and and months so yet to play 90 mins for the first team
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Flip added 13:23 - Feb 8 Let's not forget O'Connor aswell as civelli are natural left backs too so in the next year or 2 when kennedy retires we're pretty much covered all the left hand side great to see luca back
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StowTractorBoy added 13:25 - Feb 8 I, like Bergholt Blue didn't think he would play for us again but I am so pleased for him and it would be a real bonus if he can kick on and make a real impact. Still worry about that first crunching tackle as no doubt he does. Good luck to him I say - he deserves it.
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HighSeasBlue added 13:31 - Feb 8 It was great when he came on. I hope he pushes on and manages to establish himself in the team. The ovation he recieved must of given him a boost.
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tractordamage added 13:32 - Feb 8 @TractorRoyNo1 The 'others' you refer to probably actually READ the article...i.e. when Civelli said: "I've been FIT SINCE SEPTEMBER but did not have a place under the old gaffer and his staff. This is a new opportunity for me and it's a good feeling to be involved again." Just a hunch. [As Edmund Blackadder said: 'Reading is SOOO important, Baldrick']
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bluepeter added 13:46 - Feb 8 I also posted on here that civelli would not play regular football again Bergholtblue which goes to show how well he has done. I did however post on Keano's appointment as manager that he was just a thug who would never succed in football management. I was disturbed by the report on his departure from Sunderland that ALL the players celebrated his sacking. It is now becoming apparent how right I was on that one! I like many of you feel a genuine optomism with PJ,s arrival and wonder where we would of been now had he of been appointed instead of RK in the first place?

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dobbie73 added 14:19 - Feb 8 Good point Flip re: the LB/LW positions. I thought the same but never got round to writing my rambling thoughts down ...
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Keaneish added 14:27 - Feb 8 In short. Roy Keane...is without a doubt an abysmal manager. Always said we had a good squad, OK there definitely grumbles about martin, priskin and healy on my part and i will always grumble about Priskin until he stops straying offiside and getting pushed off the ball so easily but what a difference a decent man manager has made to these 3.
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paddypowell added 16:09 - Feb 8 wot ive cn of luca in reserves.the way he plays ,and uses his left foot reminds me a bit of a certain arnie muhren,if hes half as good he will b some player,lets just hope ,good luck luca
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