SOCCEROO Patrick Kisnorbo says after 14 months out it 'meant the world' to him to make his return from injury last weekend for Leeds United but admits at times he wondered if he'd make it.
Kisnorbo, 30, had not played competitive football since March last year due to a long-term Achilles injury before making a 15-minute cameo off the bench in Leeds' 2-1 win over QPR last weekend.
"It felt fantastic," Kisnorbo told leedsunited.com. "It's been a long, hard 14 months and it was nice to be rewarded. It meant the world to me.
"I'm just happy and glad that I had 15 minutes back playing. When we went 2-1 up, the gaffer said he would put me on for the final 10 minutes or so, and when I heard those words I thought it was fantastic.
"It was a nice reception from the fans and it was nice to see them and come back."
Kisnorbo had previously won Leeds' Player of the Year after a fine first season for the club during their 2009/2010 campaign when they won promotion from League One.
The Aussie has since endured a long road back to fitness, including rehabilitation in USA, and said he questioned whether he could make it at times.
"A lot of the time you wonder, but I came back through hard work and dedication," he said.
"The physio, Harvey, and the backroom staff believed in me and it paid off."
Kisnorbo is now set for a new deal at Elland Road although it is expected to only be short-term deal before he convinces the club he is fully fit.
"It was great to see Paddy come back on Saturday," Leeds boss Simon Grayson said. "It's obviously been a long, hard road for him and he's had a tough time with the injury.
"We will be putting together a contract which we hope will suit both parties."
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