WANDERERS defender Liam Edwards says he is “over the moon” to return to the pitch after featuring against Preston North End Reserves.

Edwards hasn’t played for the Whites’ first team since January 2020 after suffering a serious knee injury in training.

The defender managed 45 minutes as a young Bolton side suffered a 3-0 defeat at the Euxton Training Ground.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he told the club’s website. “There have been a lot of times during my rehab I didn’t think I’d be able to get back to this stage, so just to be back on the pitch I’m over the moon.

“It’s 45 minutes and I can build up from there to get a nice little block of fitness to see how the body feels and see how I react that.

“Hopefully I can build from here but it’s just nice to be back on that pitch and wearing on the shirt.”

Edwards admits his road back from injury has been challenging but insists he is now in the “right frame of mind”.

He added: “I think that’s the hardest thing after being out for so long, coming back and not going full pelt straight away and managing yourself properly.

“But that’s what I’ve learned over the last 22 months, to look after your body and know what’s right for yourself.

“I feel like I’ve learned a lot and I’m in the right frame of mind to come back properly now.”

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