Wayne Henderson's face was full of a beaming smile after coming through his first 90 minutes in 15 months on Wednesday. After the reserves' 1-0 win over Bury he spoke to PNE.Com and was delighted to be back in action.

"It's been a long time coming," he said, grinning throughout. "Everybody at the Club deserves a big thanks. They've all been brilliant; the coaches, the medical staff and the fans.

"It has taken a long time to get to this. It's not the Theatre of Dreams, but I'll take any kind of game at the moment. It is brilliant and I just want to work hard and try and get back in the first team squad.

"We got a clean sheet and that was the main thing I wanted. My voice has gone from shouting at everybody, as usual, but it was just great to get out there and play."

The Irish international custodian had not pulled on his gloves in anger for 15 months and was the experienced head amongst a young side at Victory Park, but was impressed by those performing in front of him.

"They are a great bunch of young lads and are a credit to Jamie and Dean because they look like there are some good players. They could be training with the first team soon because there is definitely some potential there."

The long road to recovery, Henderson admits, could have never come to an end, but now he has finally returned to action, he is looking to push the other keepers all the way: "It is brilliant to be a part of it again. I travelled to Norwich at the weekend to be with the squad and hopefully that can be the same again this weekend and I can get back in the squad soon, but that is down to the manager.

"There have been times when I been low and I didn't know if I was going to make it, even quite recently, but the lads have stuck by me, encouraged me and now I'm back, have got a clean sheet and the next thing is to try and get back into first team reckoning."