Dominic Samuel admits a first appearance in 11 months ‘felt like trying to walk again’.

But while it may have been a friendly against Southport on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Brockhall, to the Rovers attacker it meant the world.

He has battled back from a serious knee injury sustained in August and put himself in a position where he can start building up his match fitness with the Under-23s.

“It was a dream come true. I’ve been putting in the hard shift and I’ve been dying to get back out there,” Samuel explained of his 45 minute run-out in the 2-0 win. “I’ve come back from a serious injury and am ready to go.

“It felt like trying to walk again, finding my feet. I didn’t want to rush in to anything but to get back out there, it felt amazing.

“I was happy to get a game in pre-season with the boys and play a game.

“I’m still finding my feet, but at the same time, I’m feeling great.”

Samuel picked up the injury just three weeks in to last season having worked hard with a personal trainer last summer to get in the best shape possible.

The diagnosis from a scan on his knee showed extensive ligament damage which meant his campaign had ended in just his third appearance.

“Sometimes when you get serious injuries you can’t sulk and have to get on with it and put the hard work and get back as soon as,” Samuel said of receiving the news.

“It didn’t hit me straight me away, it wasn’t until a few weeks later because I was probably still in shock when they told me.

“There would be some days when I came in and it really hit me. I couldn’t do much apart from ice.

“The first few weeks of the injury was just trying to get over it, but you can’t because it’s a long, serious injury.

“You have to learn to be patient.”

While Samuel didn’t travel to Austria with the first-team squad, to continue his work with the medical department, he has been training on a day-to-day basis with the players of late.

After 45 minutes against the Sandgrounders, he could feature again in a match at Lancaster City tomorrow night, but it’s all about baby steps for now.

He added: “There’s a few games with the Under-23s and that’s all I’m focusing on.

“I’m not thinking too far ahead, each game and step and game at a time.

“Then when I’m fully fit it’ll be up to the gaffer when he puts me in.”

Just being back training with the squad is a huge lift to Samuel’s confidence, with a beaming smile not far from his face.

“When you play football, no matter how much work you do, you can get injured and that’s just part of the game,” said the 25-year-old.

“You have to be mentally tough to play football and get over these hurdles. You have to keep going.

“I’ve been with them every day in pre-season, apart from when they went to Austria. It feels good to be back with the boys.

“On a personal note I feel like I’m getting back to where I was before, I just need to get my match fitness back.”