Wilman Conde admitted he was unsure of he would ever get back to the top after missing almost a year with an ankle injury.

The 29-year old Colombian defender was picked up by the Red Bulls in the off-season from Mexican club Atlas and made his debut for the MLS club in last weekend's 4-1 win over Colorado Rapids.

Conde was thrilled to be back on the pitch and was even more chuffed to have performed so well, setting up a goal for Thierry Henry in the process.

"I was a little afraid of how the performance would go. But from my teammates to the coaching staff, everybody has been unbelievably supportive of me coming back and onto the field,'' Conde told the NY Post.

"At the end of the day I was happy I was able to give back to the team that confidence and able to perform, and give that security or safety on the back line that it needs to have.

"The toughest part was definitely being off the field, from coming back after the surgery and having the uncertainty if you're going to be able to come back, how you're going to be able to come back.

"Just being on the sidelines and watching these guys practicing every day and playing, that was mentally the toughest part for me.'

"Through the second surgery when they removed the pins, it was a little bit of pressure: Can I come back, and how can I come back? But thank God things are working the right way.''

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