Aaron Brown is hoping to secure a contract with Queens Park Rangers after 10 months on the sidelines.
The midfielder, 24, broke his leg last March and has been at Loftus Road on a non-contract basis since leaving Bristol City in the summer.
He finally returned to action in a reserve match on Tuesday.
"It's a big relief. I'm so glad to be playing again at last and now hopefully I can prove myself and show I can do well at QPR," he said.
"You start to wonder if you'll ever play again when you're out for that long.
"At first I was told I would be out for about three months, but it's ended up being 10.
"It's been very frustrating for me. But now I'm finally playing again and I want to take the chance I've been given."
Rangers boss Ian Holloway moved for Brown after the west London club pipped Bristol City to automatic promotion at the end of last season.
Twelve months earlier, Holloway sealed the signing of Martin Rowlands on a Bosman free transfer when the player was still recovering from a broken leg.
Rowlands went on to win the club's player of the year award.
"That was one of the first things the manager told me when he brought me to QPR," Brown explained.
"It just shows what can happen and I'm hoping I can prove myself too.
"I'd already told Bristol City I felt I wanted to move on, and then I got injured.
"Ian Holloway then came in for me and I think it helped that he comes from Bristol, because he knew about me.
"Even though I've not played, I've been with QPR a while now, so I know the players and feel as though I'm part of the squad.
"This could be a great opportunity for me to play at a higher level and I believe I'm capable of doing that."