Caley Thistle captain Gary Warren was delighted to make his return to the side in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Dundee after three months out with a broken leg.
The defender came on as a substitute in the 80th minute for his first appearance since suffering the injury in a challenge with Motherwell midfielder Stephen Pearson on the opening day of the season.
Warren believes he is still a few weeks away from being able to start games but said: “I’m very happy to be back. It felt like a long time sitting in the stand twiddling my thumbs, feeling helpless at not being able to do anything to help the team.
“I’m not ready to start games yet. I will need another couple of weeks and maybe a couple of youth games to get me up to match speed. It’s now about building up match-fitness and sharpness and getting in as many games as possible before I play a full 90 minutes. But the players were fantastic against Dundee and I don’t deserve to come straight back in.
“The leg has healed, so it’s just about getting my fitness up and back to where I was at the start of the season. I have looked after myself in the time I’ve been off so hopefully I should not be too long.”
Inverness have struggled this season and are ninth in the Premiership having won only three of their first 12 games.
While Warren believes injuries have had a big impact, the 31-year-old reckons the success of last season – in which Caley Jags won the Scottish Cup and finished third – has given the club a lot to live up to.
Warren added: “We’ve lost a lot of key players, and people have to look at the size of Inverness. We are a small club that has been punching above its weight for the last few seasons. But that’s no excuse for this season. We haven’t started as well as we would have liked, but the main thing is the number of injuries we’ve had and the fact we’ve been dealt an unlucky hand in a few games and another one on Saturday.
“The injuries and suspensions so early have affected us. Having 10 players out – probably seven usual starters – is a massive part of the side and that is going to affect any side, even the best sides.
“That’s been the main difference and until we get a settled side back again and players playing in their usual positions, people won’t see the best of us.”