Junior Tiensia was pleased with his progress after returning to playing ninety-minute matches after a long-term injury.
The Barrow defender picked up a serious ankle injury during a game away to MK Dons in October and was forced off the field.
The left-back later underwent surgery to treat it in November and has been in rehabilitation for the five months since.
He returned to action this past week, playing a full ninety minutes for the Barrow B team in a fixture against Bolton Wanderers B.
The Bluebirds reserves ran to a 2-0 victory in their Central League match, recording four wins in as many games through a Jamie Proctor brace.
Speaking to the North West Evening Mail after the victory, the 23-year-old said: He said: “It was a really good feeling to be back out there.
“I’ve been out for quite a long time, and it’s been mentally tough, but it was all worth it in the end.
“I didn’t quite expect to play 90 minutes to be honest, but it happened, and I got through it, and I still feel like I had quite a lot left, so that’s a good thing.
“The grass wasn’t the best, but I just dealt with it.”
Tiensia made just 11 appearances for Barrow this season and only managed nine minutes after being subbed on at Stadium MK before picking up his injury.
A former Millwall player, the number 29 joined the South Cumbrian club from Solihull Moors on a free transfer this summer.
Speaking on his recovery, the defender said: “The coaching staff, the players here and family back home. Everyone was around me and helped me get back to where I am today, so thanks to everyone.
“I wanted to come back a lot sooner, but Joe Kennedy was holding me back, and thank God he did, because I don’t think I’d have been able to get through 90 minutes if I’d have come back any sooner.
“It just goes to show the work that the coaching staff and the physios all put in to get me back in, so yeah I’m very pleased.”
Barrow play fellow play-off contenders Newport County on Saturday, with Pete Wild’s club having a five-point cushion in the top seven.
Writer’s View
Extra depth is always a good thing to have, so having Junior Tiensia return will be a boost. The full-back didn’t get much of a chance to prove himself in the side before his major injury, but looked decent for The Bluebirds, including recording an assist against Accrington Stanley.
Barrow do still have a shot at automatic promotion with their games in hand, but such is the strength at the top of the league, it does seem a little too far out of reach. However, with just nine games left of their season, Barrow look set on course to achieve a first-ever League Two play-off berth in their history.
