Bristol City defender Mark Little has admitted he has a lot to do to get completely match fit, after making a goalscoring return from injury in the Robins' 3-0 win over Almancilense.
Little dislocated his shoulder in City’s 1-1 draw with Oldham Athletic on Good Friday, and played eighty minutes against the Portuguese minnows, opening the scoring in the friendly.
But despite the positive start to his pre-season schedule, the wing-back warned that it is only the beginning as he looks to get 100 per cent match fit ahead of the season's start in two weeks' time.
The defender needs more time
Speaking to Bristol City Player, Little said it was "a good runout" and was exactly "what I needed" from his first game in five months, and that the "minutes in competitive games" help him to stay where he is in his rehabilitation.
He did however admit that he was still a bit rusty and that "there were certain things in the game" where the defender was "a little bit off the pace" , and it will take "a couple more weeks" to find the extra "fitness and power".
Little was Steve Cotterill’s first summer signing last year, joining the Robins from their League One rivals Peterborough when his contract at London Road expired, and played 43 times as they won both the League One title and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.
The 26-year-old scored in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final itself, bagging the decisive second goal in a 2-0 win over Northern Final winners Walsall, and scored a further two goals in the league.
An experienced Football League defender
Little started his career at Championship side Wolves, but following several spells out on loan at other clubs including Peterborough, the defender decided to make his stay at London Road a permanent one in 2010.
The right back helped the Posh to League One promotion via the playoffs in 2011, to add to the promotion he earned whilst at Ashton Gate.