Igor Budan has made a successful playing return at Palermo.

The Croatian striker featured in friendly action on the weekend and said: "I want to pay back the trust Coach Walter Zenga has placed on me. I am focused on doing that and I cannot see myself leaving the club.

"There was a point when I thought my career was about to end," confessed the striker who was sidelined for over eight months.

"Now I have the chance to improve and show my worth. For this I have to thank Maurizio Zamparini, the one who signed me from Parma.

"We have big plans for the future. There is plenty of competition up front, which is needed when you have to achieve big things."