Doncaster Rovers full-back Sean McDaid is finally basking in the light at the end of the tunnel, with the 23 year-old defender enjoying taking part in his first match in eighteen months this week.

The Harrogate-born left-back played for the best part of half-an-hour in Rovers' 4-3 victory against Sheffield United in a practice game this week and is understandably buzzing after pulling on the red and white hoops for the first time in nearly two years.

"It went really well and I am really pleased," McDaid told DoncasterRoversFC.co.uk.

"I played for twenty minutes, because with them (Sheffield United) fielding a strong team; and I felt really good after it. It was just a case of always going off of my reactions and my reaction was fine. I felt I played quite well in it as well, so it's just a case of kicking on from now and playing 45 minutes next. Psychologically, it was massive to play again. About a year ago, I was at this same point where I was about to play in a practice game against Villa and my knee blew up the day before. Just to get through the game against United was massive."

And despite no sleepless night prior to the game, the former Leeds United academy player admits that it wasn't a case of no nerves at all.

"I wasn't nervous in that sense, but because I have always gone off of reactions, it had just been that long that I was just dying to get my first game under my belt and put the kit back on; it's been a while since I've had the kit back on, so that was nice. I played at left-back on Tuesday, but to be fair, after eighteen months out injured, I couldn't give a monkeys where I play anymore! I just want to get as many games as possible under my belt. This is a big season for me and I just want to make up for lost time."

Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll has hinted that McDaid could be headed away from Doncaster on loan in a bid to get match fitness, however the player himself hopes to be able to play for the club that have shown faith in him and who have helped him back to full fitness.

"Everyone at the Club has been great with me and I think that you see, when you're injured, how much people look after you. The Gaffer was great with me during the summer and that gave me a boost in confidence to keep working hard and the physio staff of John (Dickens), Ross Burbeary (sports science) and Craig Schofield (physio) have been great and helped me out loads. I thanked John after the game on Tuesday, just for all of the help he has given me. But I have to thank the Gaffer, really, whatever happens in my career, because there are a lot of people that would probably not have done it. For me, I have been out for eighteen months and I want to play for this club, I don't want to play for any other club. Especially after being out for this long and working this hard, I have been working hard to get back in this team and my aim is to do that."