Crysencio Summerville's first 90-minute run out in nine months turned out to be a bittersweet occasion for the West Ham United winger.
The 23-year-old has battled back from a serious hamstring injury, one which first sidelined him in early January, to make his comeback at the start of the current campaign.
After four appearances - and two assists - as he built himself back up, Summerville played the entirety of Saturday's 2-0 Premier League defeat at Arsenal.
While the former Netherlands U21 international was naturally disappointed with the result against the early league leaders, he was nevertheless satisfied to tick-off another significant milestone on his road to recovery.
"I'm just grateful to be back with the team and to have played my first 90 minutes," he explained. "I love every minute, every time I step on the pitch, so I'm just grateful to God. Obviously, you want to win the games, so I'm disappointed [to have lost at Arsenal], but I take the positives to play and we'll work and go again after the international break.
"I want to thank [the fans] for supporting me, for believing in me.
"Obviously, I came from Leeds and I got injured early last season. So, they didn't see a lot from me. But I'm happy with the support and I want to give them back my magic."
Although attacking opportunities were limited by a stifling Gunners display on Saturday, Summerville has wasted little time in making an impact this term, with those two assists from the bench at Nottingham Forest a signal of the graft he has put in to return to fitness.
"I've been working very hard with the physios, with everyone at Rush Green," he continued. "So, my only plan was to come back and show the people what they were waiting for and for myself as well. So, that's what I'm trying to do.
"We didn't have the ball a lot on Saturday, but I tried to show my magic when I had the time. But, like I said, we'll keep working and after the break, we go again."
With the Premier League entering the two-week hiatus of its second international break of the campaign, Summerville is excited at the prospect of spending the time getting used to the demands of the team's new Head Coach Nuno.
Summerville has enjoyed the first week under the Portuguese's stewardship and is sure the team will grow together - and show the impact of that work when we return at home against Brentford on Monday 20 October.
He added: "It's a new coach, so a new project. I think we need time to adapt and to play in his style.
"I think once we have everything under control, we will be very good under him.
"We can work and we're going to work [during the break], and we're going to show everyone what we're capable of against Brentford."
