Manchester United defender Phil Jones is proud of his playing return in defeat to Wolves on Monday night.

At one stage, it looked like Jones might never play professional football again, and now he has lifted the lid on just how much it has meant to finally be back to fitness.

"You know, I spent so long out, off the pitch and out of the squad – it's been horrible at times, but it's nice to be back out with the lads. I feel like a footballer again," he told Team Viewer.

"It's just a great feeling. As soon as you step out, I think I was on the bench for West Ham in the (Carabao) Cup. Even for a cup game at Old Trafford it was absolutely packed and it was just - was sat on the bench and I was thinking 'God I've missed this." I've missed this feeling of being involved with the stadium and the fans there, the excitement, the buzz. It all came flooding back straight away."

Jones, who United signed from Blackburn for £16m back in 2011, also went on to thank his teammates for the support they have shown him and insisted he would always be there to repay the favour to anyone who needed it.

He added: "You know the lads, they were great, they were considerate at times and understood the situation I was going through. They know it's tough, what it's like to be out for a while, let alone a year or whatever it was.

"I'm more than open to helping players when they're struggling with different parts of the game. Different things they encounter outside of football. It doesn't always have to be on the pitch.

"I'm sure the fans see everything that happens on the pitch, but sometimes it's off the pitch that determines what happens on the pitch.

"I'd like to think that if someone's struggling, or if one of the young lads needs help, then yeah, for sure I'd always give that advice.

"Any time I represent this club and put the shirt on, I give my absolutely everything and I put my blood, sweat and tears into everything I do for this club."