DeVere, 26, got through 45 minutes for Roar against a Brisbane Premier League Select XI after a long-term quad injury followed by a knee problem.

Despite his long road back, the central defender, who last played competitively in April 2015, never had any doubts he’d return.

And he’s now targeting a return to A-League action when Brisbane kicks off the season at home against Melbourne Victory in exactly a month’s time.

“There’s still a month before the first game rolls around and I’d be hopeful in that time I can get enough miles in the legs to get fit and sharpen everything up,” DeVere told FourFourTwo.  

“It’ll probably take me a few games to get back to where I’d like to be but I’m confident there’s still enough time in the pre-season to give the boss some selection issues.”

Roar coach John Aloisi indicated earlier this week DeVere is likely to play in Saturday’s friendly against Central Coast Mariners as he continues to build.  

There had been whispers of retirement after needing a knee operation in July but he insisted he never came close.

“I was always confident. Last season I felt like I was getting there,” said DeVere, who appeared once on Roar’s bench in January.  

“Never any doubts I was going to come back and keep playing.

“I guess it was probably a case of the team doing well enough that there wasn’t any reason to rush me in.”

DeVere only managed a handful of games for Roar after his maiden Socceroos appearance before aggravating the quad injury.

In the meantime, Trent Sainsbury, Bailey Wright, Matt Spiranovic and Mark Milligan have all been used at centre-back for Australia.

The former Gyeongnam man admitted there’s a long way to go before returning to the Socceroos fold but hinted he believes he can get back to that level.

“I’m not setting that goal or target,” DeVere said.  

“I’m looking to get fit, sharpen up and try to make a difference for this Roar team when the season rolls around. If something comes of that, then so be it.  

“I’ve got a lot of work to do to be ready for the season and even more work to start getting back to the level I think I can get to.”

Aloisi labeled DeVere like a new signing for Brisbane earlier this week and the defender was bullish about the side’s title hopes after falling narrowly short last term.

“This team has shown in the past it’s full of winners and you’ve still got a lot of those characters around,” DeVere said.  

“They’ve created a culture for the ones who’ve come in and coming through, it’s a team that likes to win.  

“The disappointment of last year will definitely be spurring us on and we’ll be hoping to go one better in both the premiership and the championship.”