Leeds United defender Barry Douglas has lifted the lid on his return to full fitness after a frustrating debut season at Elland Road.
The defender joined the Whites from Wolves for £3m last summer, having starred in their title-winning campaign.
However, the left-back struggled to replicate those levels of performances, with a loss of form and several injuries hampering Douglas, particularly in the second half of the season.
Ezgjan Alioski dislodged the Scotsman at left-back during his absence, before a ruptured medial ligament against Millwall ended his campaign at the start of April.
However, with the new season looming, Douglas returned to action during Leeds’ first pre-season outing last night, a comprehensive 5-0 win over York City.
After the match, the 29-year-old lifted the lid on his battle back from injury as he bids to earn a place in Marcelo Bielsa’s starting line-up against Bristol City on August 4.
“I'm feeling good. Feeling optimism,” he said.
“I'm not getting too ahead of myself. It's been a patient rehabilitation process for myself and although it's nice to finally get back on the pitch and play, I'm not going to push it too much.
“I mean the demands within myself, I know I need to be patient still to get to full tilt, so it's a step in the right direction, I'm happy to get through it unscathed.”
Douglas’ next outing will be against Manchester United as the Whites squad head out to Australia for their pre-season tour.
The old rivals’ clash has been highly anticipated and will provide a step-up in class for Bielsa’s men.
Douglas revealed is looking forward to the battle and believes United’s upcoming matches will offer him a better opportunity to step up his performance levels ahead of the new season.
He said: “Yeah, I'm going to need that.
“I think at this stage of where I'm at I'm almost back to 100 per cent so now it's probably about just irritating it now and again to get that belief and confidence within myself that it's fine.
“Everything else physically I feel good. Again, it's just about getting minutes and getting back to match sharpness.”
Leeds take on Guiseley in their second pre-season match tonight. New signings Helder Costa and Ben White, as well as the other half of United’s first-team regulars, will feature, ahead of their trip to Australia.
