Motherwell striker Mika Biereth insists he is in better shape now than he was before his knee injury.
The Arsenal loanee returned to action for the first time in nine weeks as the Fir Park side staged a late comeback to draw 3-3 against Ross County in Lanarkshire.
And the 20-year-old made an instant impact as he came off the bench to net from the penalty spot which kickstarted Stuart Kettlewell's side recovery.
Biereth admits it has been hard to sit on the sidelines but is delighted to be back in action.
He said: "I think it was an avoidable injury. It did not need to happen but it did happen so I cannot sulk about it.
"I went down to Arsenal, and I think have come back in a better shape in I left. It was really good to get back on the pitch after I think nine weeks.
"I was watching the games down in London and I was itching to get back on that pitch. I wanted to come back earlier but the Arsenal guys were like ‘chill out a little bit and make sure you are properly ready so you can come up and stay'.
"I am not thinking about my knee. It was a bad injury but now I think I have that mentality and confidence that it is done, and I do not feel it is problem and I hope to get through the rest of the season.
Biereth's spot kick was one of six goals scored in the second half of the fixture as the match came alive after a quiet opening 45 minutes.
Eamonn Brophy put the visitors in the front on 65 minutes with a powerful strike past Motherwell keeper Liam Kelly and not long after Simon Murray made it 2-0 to Malky Mackay's men with another clinical finish.
After Biereth got the hosts back into the game, Victor Loturi looked to have killed the match as a contest after making it 3-1 to Ross County.
But Motherwell were not deterred as substitute Conor Wilkinson netted before the last-minute drama unfolded as 17-year-old Luca Ross benefited from a goal-line scramble to score right at the end and earn the draw.
And Biereth feels Kettlewell's side have been unlucky at times so far this season. "I would not get caught up on the run because they are difficult fixtures and I think it was one of those where a goal here or there and everyone is talking differently about it," he continued.
"We just need to stay calm and do what we are doing and if the performances are going like they are going then I am sure the end product will come.
"I think for a club like Motherwell, with no disrespect to Ross County, I think at home it has to be three points.
"Yes, I can accept being happy for the 3-3 given the position we were in, but I wanted the fourth one.
Mackay's side looked miles ahead at times before the dramatic conclusion to the fixture but midfielder Kyle Turner says the set back of losing the lead so late on will not stop the Highland side from building momentum.
"I thought the boys were really good in the first half and I think we should have been ahead at half time," he said.
"I think the way we played was good for the majority of the game. We moved the ball well and changed our shape a bit.
"If we keep playing like that, we will be a match for a lot of teams in the league. I think over the piece we slightly edged it, but you cannot concede poor goals like we did as in the SPFL you get punished for that.
"We know that in the changing room, and we need to pick up on it. It is done now. We spoke about it and we know it will be a difficult game at Easter Road on Tuesday.
"Hibs drew 0-0 with Celtic at home so it will be a tough fixture."
