Bouma gets a boost in fitness fight; Bouma passes 90-minute test.

Byline: Lisa Smith

another huge step on his comeback from the horrific injury which threatened to end his career, coming through 90 minutes of competitive football.

The Dutch international played the entire game for Villa Reserves against Wolves last night at Villa Park, which ended 1-1. The left-back admitted afterwards it had been a good test after 14 months on the sidelines and a major bonus on the long road back to full fitness.

Good workout: Wilfred Bouma.

The defender suffered a devastating break playing in the UEFA Cup against Odense early last season and was then hit with a further setback when he discovered he needed further surgery to clean up loose bone.

But Bouma is confident he is now back. He said: "My last 90 minutes were six months ago with the reserves and then I had another couple of spells but it didn't feel right.

"I had to go back for another operation but it feels right now and I am just glad to be back out there playing 90 minutes andfeel everything is coming back which is a wonderful feeling. "You think because you suffered such a horrible injury you will have some discomfort, but before it was more than discomfort. You can cope with that but not with pain. Now it feels well, so I feel very positive.'' Bouma knows it is now about match-fitness, although he insists work on that is already under way. "I have to be patient," he said. "I have already been training for a couple of weeks and the fitness is coming back. Another couple of games and I think hopefully I can give the gaffer a bit more of a problem but we have a big squad now." Competition for places under Martin O'Neill has never been greater and Bouma knows he has Nicky Shorey and Villa newcomer Stephen Warnock ahead of him.

"I have been training for five weeks now so I have done that 'first tackle','' he said. "I don't think about anything like the injury happening because when you are out playing you are just focused on the game." Bouma is grateful for all the support he has had over the past 14 months. "During my time out I've had a lot of letters and you run into people on the street and that gives you a boost to come back. "This club means a lot to me and I want to be part of this club. Now I want to get back into the first team. "When do I hope to be back? I always say as soon as possible. I just want to be travelling with the boys again. I see them every day but I am not travelling. "Now everything comes closer so I'm looking forward to it. I know every day is a day closer."

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Good workout: Wilfred Bouma.