Rufus played his first game since August - when he sustained a problematic foot injury - in the reserves against Derby on Tuesday evening and he says:
"It is just nice to get back on the football field; it has been a difficult season for me and just to get out there and play was fantastic.
"It took me a while to get into it at first but I was delighted; I just wanted to get a couple of games in, if anything, and I felt I could have played the whole game yesterday so they had to drag me off.
"It felt very strange but you soon get it back and get used to it, and I had a tackle early on which set my mind at ease.
"This morning when I woke up I felt quite good as well - so it is all positive."
Rufus says the staff have been brilliant in aiding his rehabilitation and adds:
"The people at West Ham, such as Tony Strudwick, have been fantastic with me and I have come on a lot by working with him - a lot of thanks go to him and his medical staff."
As for the possibility of him playing in the playoffs, assuming West Ham make them, he admits:
"I think it is too early; I have been out for seven months and I have played an hour - it is a big step up from that to being in the playoffs.
"There is a massive difference - but you never know.
"To be fair it was a four month injury that has gone on for seven months and should have been sorted out then.
"I should have been back at Christmas and it was frustrating - but what can you do?"
Whether or not he is involved in the playoffs, he insists West Ham will achieve the aim of getting back into the top flight and explains:
"I always said all along that I believe if we get in the playoffs we will get up.
"Unless something unbelievable happens we will get to the next stage and I think we have the squad and the team to get promoted."
Even with Crystal Palace the stand-out form team, he stresses:
"I don't think we need to avoid anyone; I think we are better than what is in there and we don't need to be scared of anyone.
"Everyone has worked all season for Premiership football and Alan Pardew has come in to take us into the Premiership; if he does that then it is a job well done."