West Ham United midfielder Jack Collison was delighted to be back in action for the U21s.

The midfielder returned from a long-standing knee problem by starting the Development Squad's 3-1 Barclays U21 Premier League Group 1 defeat at Norwich City on Monday. Collison came through 45 minutes as planned before being replaced at half-time.

"It was great to be back out there again," he told whuf.com. "I am obviously a little bit rusty but I have ticked a box by completing 45 minutes and hopefully it will be onwards and upwards from there.

"I loved it. It was great to be playing football again, even though it was not the best conditions out there. I thought the boys did well and were unlucky to not to get a point out of it."