Young Blues keeper Antoni Bort was delighted to get back in action with the U21s on Monday having been out of action since pre-season with a knee injury.
Bort suffered a left patella fracture in July which sidelined the Lowestoft-raised Polish keeper for 30 weeks.
The 19-year-old finally made his comeback for the U21s as they were beaten 1-0 by Millwall at Playford Road on Monday.
"My injury came after one game in pre-season so it was good to be back out there,” he told the club website.
"They [Millwall] were a good and really physical side. We had a young team out as well, so I think it was a good performance. I feel good physically and I’m glad my knee doesn’t hurt me anymore!
"I’d not really played with the team since December 2021 because I was at Dereham on loan. I had four months there and played 16 games which was really good.
"I’ve spent a lot of time with different staff members; with Geoff [Robinson, first-team strength and conditioning coach], Jack [Wilce, head of academy sports medicine], David [Smith] rehabilitation physiotherapist and the performance coaches.
"If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be back this quickly. We worked smart and they managed my loads.
"They listened to me when I wasn’t agreeing with things but I trusted them a lot, and that’s helped me get out on the pitch quicker.
"It was nice to see them come and support me for the Millwall game as well as Reg [Rene Gilmartin, head of goalkeeping] and Carl [Pentney, head of academy goalkeeping].”
The U21s, who were beaten 2-1 at Leiston in the Suffolk Premier Cup last night, are next in action at home to QPR at Playford Road on Monday afternoon (KO 1pm).