BARROW AFC’s Junior Tiensia has spoken of his delight at getting back out on the grass.

The defender played in the B team’s 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers B on Tuesday afternoon.

It was Tiensia’s first start since suffering a bad ankle injury last September, and he told the club’s official Facebook page it was good to be back.

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.

“To get 90 minutes (against Wanderers) put a smile on my face.”

Tiensia admitted he wasn’t expecting to play the full game against Wanderers after such a long time out.

But even though the playing surface was quite heavy, the full-back felt he still had plenty in the tank.

“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.”

The 23-year-old admitted it took him sometime to get to grips with being back in the action, but felt he grew into the clash.

“Obviously I noticed when I was out there, that for the first 20 odd minutes I wasn’t playing like myself.

“Then as the game goes on you build more confidence, and I guess that’s what these games are there for.

“They are there for people coming back from injury, for people who need minutes, and you know getting that confidence back.

“Like I said it was a bit of a slow start from me, which is unlike me to be honest, but I got through it in the end and my performance improved.”

Tiensia says it has been tough to spend so much time out, having not played since the game against Mansfield Town back in September.

He added: “Like I said it was mentally tough. I felt like the days, and the weeks, and the months were going a lot slower for me than anyone else.

“When you are cooped up inside with nothing but your thoughts, while the boys are outside training it can be quite tough, but I’m quite strong-minded and I had good people around me.

“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 Kenners (Joe Kennedy Barrow AFC’s head physiotherapist) 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.”