Defender Tom Thorpe believes that his next appearance for Birmingham City will feel like his "proper" debut after injury cut short his first spell earlier this season.

Thorpe limped off just injured 14 minutes into his first game for the club on February 1, but after returning to St Andrew's until the end of the season, the Manchester United player is pleased to be back at the Championship outfit.

The 21-year-old is quoted by the Birmingham Mail as saying: "It will probably feel like a proper debut when I do play again, and hopefully this time, it will be the full game and we will get the three points.

"It was just bad luck. Nothing that I could prevent. I was kind of falling away from a header and as I landed, my ankle seemed to completely buckle. The medical staff at both clubs have done an excellent job and it was always in mind that I could return.

"I think that it was just a matter of recovery and how quick that was going to be and whether it was smooth. Thankfully, everything has been fine and I am just glad to be back."

Thorpe could feature when Birmingham travel to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.