It was a big moment for Jack Whatmough to step out onto a football pitch again.
The defender skippered Pompey’s reserve side at Plymouth for his first game since injuring his knee last February.
A few days earlier he had been named among the substitutes for the League One victory over AFC Wimbledon.
And Whatmough hopes he will get more opportunities for Kenny Jackett’s troops after completing his rehabilitation.
The 23-year-old said: “I played in an in-house game a couple of weeks ago, but that was just an hour against our under-16 side.
“I’m not sure if I got a lot out of that, so to have a proper match back – and to get 90 minutes – feels good.
"It’s another step ticked off for me that I needed and hopefully I can start getting in contention for the first team again."
“I felt alright. I did get a little bit leggy late on, but then you get a second wind and feel fine again after that.
“So it’s another step ticked off for me that I needed and hopefully I can start getting in contention for the first team again.
“That’s something I’m really looking forward to, but to play 90 minutes in my first game back after 11 months out is a credit to the physios for the work they’ve done.
“I’ve got full belief in myself after the work I’ve done. There was a great surgery and rehab, and we’ve made all the right steps.”
Whatmough helped a youthful Blues side earn a 1-1 Central League Cup draw at a wet and windy Home Park.
“It was probably up there with the worst conditions I’ve played in, but that just adds to it – if I can get through a game like that then I feel confident if getting through others.
“They had a few first team lads out, while we had a pretty young team, although we held our own in the first half.
“I thought that if the game had gone on a little bit longer, then we would have scored another goal because we had the chances.”