It would be fair to say that West Ham United's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Aston Villa on Saturday meant more to Kieron Dyer than his Hammers team-mates.
Not only did Dyer provide an assist for Diego Tristan's dramatic 85th minute equaliser, but the England international also came through a full hour of frenetic top-flight football, producing an energetic performance in a central midfield role.
Appearing as a 33rd minute substitute for defender James Collins, Dyer completed his longest run out in a claret and blue shirt since the Premier League fixture against Wigan Athletic at the Boleyn Ground on 25 August 2007.
Three days later, Dyer's West Ham career was halted almost before it started when he suffered double leg break in a Carling Cup second round tie at Bristol Rovers. The 30-year-old attempted a comeback in January, only for a shin injury to send him back to the treatment room.
After working closely with the club's medical department, Dyer is now back to 100 per cent and slowly working his way back to full match-fitness. While he freely admits he is not there yet, the speedy Hammer is happy to be playing his part in the club's push for a place in next season's UEFA Europa League.
"I wasn't expecting an hour. The plan was to just give me half-an-hour or 40 minutes here and there but obviously when the manager called me to go on with 15 minutes of the first half still to go I was quite surprised!"
Having been sent on for Collins, who suffered a minor calf injury, Dyer joined Mark Noble in the centre of the West Ham midfield, producing an all-action display for Gianfranco Zola's side.
"People don't realise but I've played most of my career in there. I'm used to playing with two lungs in there but today I only played with one! I did okay and the lads did well as a team and we thoroughly deserved a point. It could even have been three in the end because I thought we had a lot more chances than them. Even though we got the late equaliser, there was a bit of disappointment that we didn't take more point."
West Ham played their full part in a pulsating game at Villa Park, with only the heroics of home goalkeeper Brad Friedel denying Junior Stanislas, David Di Michele and Luis Boa Morte. Had it not been for the big American, Dyer felt the Hammers could easily have taken three points instead being forced to settle for just one.
"We started the game extremely well. Junior had a great chance and David had a chance. They got up a head of steam for ten or 15 minutes and got their goal but, after that, it was an open game but we had the better chances. Friedel has pulled off a brilliant save to deny Luis and then Nobes at the end. They might say they deserved a point but I thought we deserved all three.
"I'm happy to be playing in any kind of game after being out for two years, but it was an exciting game to play in. It could have been a cagey game where both teams put men behind the ball but it wasn't. Both teams went for it and it was an enjoyable game to be part of."