Andreas Bjelland admitted he had doubts after suffering his anterior cruciate ligament injury about whether he would return to international football.
Those have now gone after he was called up to the Denmark squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Poland and Montenegro.
And he is, naturally, delighted to be back in the national ranks and Bjelland puts it down to taking it one step at a time after his injury.
The Brentford defender said: “It's really pleasing. I was out for a long time and you always have doubts when you get a big knee injury.
“The goal was to get back playing here and I was hoping to get back into the national squad so it's good to be there again.
“It was one step at time when injured. I wanted the knee to feel good again. I wanted to get minutes at Brentford – all the small steps when you've been out for a year.
“I always want to play for my country. Hopefully I get some minutes in these two games. I'm just glad to be a part of the squad again.
“These are two important games. It's an early stage for me. I'm really pleased to be back and get some minutes.”
Bjelland's task, if he features against Poland on Saturday night, is to keep Robert Lewandowski quiet and he expects it to be a tough contest.
He added: “Poland away is a difficult game. I played there a couple of years ago. They have a big striker up front so it's going to be a tough game. We've got some good players as well. It could be two good games for us.”
Denmark won their opening World Cup qualifier against Armenia by a goal to nil and Bjelland is convinced that his country have a chance of being in Russia in two years time.
He explained: “You've got to believe in it. We believe of course. We've got a good group and we've got a chance to qualify.”
Head coach Dean Smith was delighted to see Bjelland back in the Denmark squad and heaped praise on the defender for his attitude on and off the pitch.
He said: “I'm really pleased for him and I congratulated him when I heard. He's had a long road to recovery.
“He's a great person around the place. He's not just a really good footballer, he's a good person. I think everybody is pleased for him that he's back in the national squad and continue the form he's got here.
“They are role models to the injured played. I've said that before. Judgey and Rico have long term injuries and they can look at Lewis, Scott and Andreas coming back and doing well.”
