Newcastle and Republic of Ireland midfielder Damien Duff cannot get enough football as he tries to make up for the time he lost recovering from a career-threatening foot injury.
The 28-year-old is just three matches into his comeback desperate to get as much football as possible under his belt, though manager Sam Allardyce will be keen not to over-expose him so soon after his return.
"It's been busy, but that doesn't bother me because I'm just delighted to be playing again," he said. "The results have been disappointing though, especially Chelsea (a 2-1 defeat) when we felt we could have got the win and definitely the draw.
"But I'm feeling great in myself and would say I'm just about 100 per cent fit now.
"I came off with a couple of minutes to go against Chelsea but I felt like I could have run all day."
Salomon Kalou's controversial strike at Stamford Bridge robbed Newcastle of a deserved draw on Saturday and left manager Sam Allardyce under pressure once again.
The Magpies have taken just one point from their three matches over the Christmas period - and that courtesy of a late equaliser against seemingly-doomed Derby - to fuel further speculation the 53-year-old could soon be on his way out of St James's Park.
Typically he has shrugged off the rumours surrounding his future and chairman Chris Mort has moved to dispel suggestions former Tottenham boss Martin Jol or Newcastle legend Alan Shearer are being lined up to replace him.
But to convince a demanding public he will need to produce not just results on the pitch but performances which inspire.
That is something the Magpies have failed to do for much of the current campaign, but the return of Duff and striker Michael Owen, who was used for the first time at Chelsea since tearing a thigh muscle on England duty in November, could herald a new phase of the season.
Duff has struggled to reproduce his best form since his £5 million switch from Chelsea two summers ago, but is itching for the chance to do just that.
"Now we have got some big games in the new year and I am looking forward to it," he said. "When you have been out for so long, you really appreciate playing again.
"We have got another busy month coming up and we have to build on that Chelsea performance and hopefully get a win in front of our own fans against Man City on Wednesday."
Allardyce, who will lose Abdoulaye Faye, Habib Beye, Geremi and Obafemi Martins on African Nations Cup duty this month, should have Faye available tonight after scans revealed no break in the arm he damaged at Stamford Bridge.
However, Alan Smith, who was involved in a clash of heads with the Senegal international at Chelsea, remains a doubt and midfielder Joey Barton will be missing again after being remanded in custody charged with common assault and affray.
