Blues midfielder Andre Dozzell was delighted to be back in action at Braintree on Saturday after 11 months out injured, despite Town falling to a 2-0 defeat.
The 19-year-old suffered a torn cruciate knee ligament in the opening day win against Birmingham last August which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
"I’ve been waiting for this for 11 months now and to finally be back out there playing football, doing what I love is a great feeling,” Dozzell said reflecting on the match in which in played the final 25 minutes.
"I think it was physically tough for me personally. Obviously I haven’t had a game for a while and I think the tempo of the game was quick and being out for a year I’m not at 100 per cent sharpness yet, but the more minutes I get hopefully the sharper I’ll get.”
The midfielder says there have been tough times over the last 11 months: "Definitely, watching the boys out at Portman Road, just wanting to be out there.
"It’s one of those things you can’t help and you just have to get with it as a footballer. Most people have an injury and hopefully that’s behind me now.”
The academy product says his father Jason was able to give advice having experienced injuries of his own during his career.
"Yes, he told me it’s one of those things that every footballer goes through,” Dozzell junior added.
"He told me I’ve just got to stay positive, you’ve got to do your rehab fully, you can’t take shortcuts. That’s what I did, he helped me a lot.”
He says at times the medical staff had to hold him back: "I wanted to run outside a month before they were telling me to, but they’re the experts, they know what to do and they’ve helped me along the way at every step and thanks to them I’m out there today.”
Dozzell says he feels the experience has changed him: "I think so, yes. I think I’m mentally stronger. I’m thinking it can only help me in the long run and hopefully that’s behind me now I can kick on.”
Having been unable to play football for virtually a year, Dozzell says he’s now physically more prepared for the rigours of the Championship.
"I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym because what can you do in 11 months out?” he added. "Most days I was in the gym, getting stronger and hopefully ready for the Championship.”
He says he should be ready for the opening game of the season against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 4th August - "I hope so, yes” - which he says has been one of his targets during his lengthy recovery and rehab process.
"Yes, it was. I was always aiming to get out there last season but as I’m so young and you don’t want to rush things, so if that was written off I was just looking to be back for the first day of pre-season and to just kick on from there.”
He says pre-season this summer has been harder than last year’s: "I’ve only had one pre-season before and this has been the hardest one yet.
"I think pre-season for a lot of teams is just hard work and we’ve been getting through it and we’ll only be better for it.”
Dozzell has tended to play as a deeper lying ‘number four’ coming through the Town academy ranks and for young England sides but was usually used as a number 10 by Mick McCarthy for the Blues, the same role he played at Braintree on Saturday.
He says that new manager Hurst and assistant Chris Doig haven’t spoken to him about what they see as his best position in any depth but expects to be used in the more advanced position.
"Not particularly but they probably see me more as a number 10 but I’ll play wherever the gaffer wants me to. I’m just happy to be out there.”
Does he have any targets in mind for the season ahead? "Yes, but I’ll keep my goals to myself!”
Dozzell has been joined at Portman Road by Trevoh Chalobah, the Chelsea loanee having been one of his team-mates in the England U19s squad which won the European Championships in Georgia last summer.
"I think he’s a quality player and I think he’ll add a lot of quality to the team and I’m happy he’s here,” Dozzell said.
Chalobah will miss most of pre-season with Town as he is with the Young Lions - along with Blues striker Ben Morris - as they look to defend that trophy in Finland.
Dozzell admits he’s jealous of the central defender or midfielder: "I can’t lie, I am, yes, but good luck to him and hopefully he’ll bring a medal back.”
Chalobah is one of two signings made so far by Hurst, along with Jordan Roberts, who has impressed his new team-mate.
"I think he’s been sharp, he’s very strong, athletic,” Dozzell added. "I think he can add a lot to the team in the Championship.”
Dozzell is one of a number of young players at the club all looking to push on into the first team during the season ahead, along with Morris, Tristan Nydam, Flynn Downes, Barry Cotter, Shane McLoughlin, Luke Woolfenden, Chris Smith and Ben Folami.
He says they all get on well, but points out that most of them are chasing the same spot in the team.
"We’re all good mates but we’re all fighting for one position,” he said. "At the end of the day, we’re here for ourselves, I want to get in the team and so do they, so it’s all good competition.”