NEWPORT County defender Andrew Hughes has lifted the lid on his 11 months on the sidelines with a career threatening injury.

The County youth team product returned for the Exiles after almost a year on Saturday to make his first start for Newport since last December, helping the side to a clean sheet.

And Hughes admits he felt delighted to get back out there, after fighting mental demons on the long road to recovery, ahead of a second start in four days when Newport visit Oxford United on Tuesday night.

“It’s great to play 90 minutes, I felt good to be fair, fitness-wise I didn’t struggle one bit, so it was a case of finding my feet and trying to get back to the level I was at before my injury,” he explained.

“When I first got the news that I had ruptured my ACL, I thought ‘that’s it, the world is over, and the game is done for me’ but the club supported me, as did family and friends.

“I’ve looked forward so much to coming back, playing against Brackley and then Yeovil on Saturday, it’s all I’ve wanted. Starting a game was special for me and it’s a great sign the manager has that faith in me and keeping a clean sheet was lovely.

“I’ve been back training for around two months now, playing some friendly games as well, to get some game minutes.

“So yeah, going in to the Yeovil game, I had faith in myself and the gaffer had faith in me as well.”

Hughes was full of praise for Sheridan, the fourth manager to prowl the Rodney Parade technical box since Hughes originally hurt his knee.

“It was my first start under the new manager, he’s on the sidelines not giving us a moments’ rest, but I think where we are in the league, we probably need that,” he said.

“I really like playing under him, I like the way he works, and I like his staff, so it’s going well.

“There have been four different managers in the time I’ve been out, the whole squad has changed, as a County fan, you are just wondering who is coming in and what it’s going to mean for the team.

The group last year got on great off the pitch, but it’s the same this season, we are a tight group, everyone gets on and we go out to eat together, stuff like that.

“I’d have liked to play for Terry Butcher, the defender he was, but we are really enjoying playing for John Sheridan, he’s got a very aggressive approach and I like that. He’s constantly on your back! He’s the right manager to get us up there (to safety).”