Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa was delighted after he played his first competitive match since breaking his leg against Manchester City in October last year.
The 24-year-old played 70 minutes in the Magpies' 4-3 Carling Cup third-round victory over Nottingham Forest.
"All the year I worked so hard to come back and I'm very happy to be on the pitch now,” he said.
"It was very hard for me and I'm very happy to be back. I hope we do very good things this season.
"I feel very good. I have confidence and I feel I will do very good things now. I'm ready to play now. I hope we continue like this."
Newcastle face Blackburn Rovers at St. James’s Park this Saturday.
