It has been a long road to recovery for Pete Nelson following a serious foot injury sustained against Edinburgh in November 2015.
Ironically, after 14 months on the sidelines, it was against the same opposition that Nelson made his comeback when he returned for the bonus point win at Kingspan Stadium last weekend.
While much of the attention pre-Edinburgh focussed on the debut of marquee signing Marcell Coetzee, the return of Nelson was equally well received by the Ulster supporters, as the 24-year-old put in a controlled eighty-minute performance from out-half.
"I was very excited to get back after that length of time," said Nelson.
"I suppose there were a few nerves as well but going straight in at 10, there was no time to think about it. You're straight into it and I think it was a big help for me.
"I was a bit stiff and sore but I suppose that is to be expected after 14 months out and, to be honest, after any game you have that.
"I was just delighted to get out there and I'll take the bumps and bruises at this stage."
While Nelson is understandably delighted to be back to fitness, he admits it was a challenging period.
"It was tough. I suppose it is a cliché but you just have to take it day by day.
"The medics and S&C (strength and conditioning) staff are very good here and looked after me really well.
"I was just focusing day to day and just seeing small progression and pushing on like that.
"It is good here that you can still be involved with the team and you can still go into meetings, still analyse teams and help guys out in some way off the pitch, but ultimately as a rugby player you want to be out there."
Prior to his injury setback, Nelson had been enjoying some of the best rugby of his career in the Ulster number 10 jersey. With Paddy Jackson once again on international duty, the Ballynahinch clubman will be hoping to make the most of his opportunities, including this Saturday against Glasgow.
"I felt I was playing quite well and to get a foot injury at that stage was frustrating. Hopefully I can pick up where I left off and push on again.
"It is a massive block of games for us and it is important we take it one by one.
"We've Glasgow this week and if we put a string of performances together and get a few good wins we'll be back up in the mix."
With both Ulster and Glasgow still chasing a spot in the PRO12 playoffs, Nelson is expecting a typically fierce challenge from the Scottish visitors this weekend.
"They have a few players with the Scottish team, and a couple have been released this week, but even the other players they have in the squad are very good and they will be very hungry after defeat last week to the Scarlets.
"They will be well up for it and it is a massive game for us.
"It is important this week we play for the full 80 minutes because that's what it'll take."
Ironically, after 14 months on the sidelines, it was against the same opposition that Nelson made his comeback when he returned for the bonus point win at Kingspan Stadium last weekend.
While much of the attention pre-Edinburgh focussed on the debut of marquee signing Marcell Coetzee, the return of Nelson was equally well received by the Ulster supporters, as the 24-year-old put in a controlled eighty-minute performance from out-half.
"I was very excited to get back after that length of time," said Nelson.
"I suppose there were a few nerves as well but going straight in at 10, there was no time to think about it. You're straight into it and I think it was a big help for me.
"I was a bit stiff and sore but I suppose that is to be expected after 14 months out and, to be honest, after any game you have that.
"I was just delighted to get out there and I'll take the bumps and bruises at this stage."
While Nelson is understandably delighted to be back to fitness, he admits it was a challenging period.
"It was tough. I suppose it is a cliché but you just have to take it day by day.
"The medics and S&C (strength and conditioning) staff are very good here and looked after me really well.
"I was just focusing day to day and just seeing small progression and pushing on like that.
"It is good here that you can still be involved with the team and you can still go into meetings, still analyse teams and help guys out in some way off the pitch, but ultimately as a rugby player you want to be out there."
Prior to his injury setback, Nelson had been enjoying some of the best rugby of his career in the Ulster number 10 jersey. With Paddy Jackson once again on international duty, the Ballynahinch clubman will be hoping to make the most of his opportunities, including this Saturday against Glasgow.
"I felt I was playing quite well and to get a foot injury at that stage was frustrating. Hopefully I can pick up where I left off and push on again.
"It is a massive block of games for us and it is important we take it one by one.
"We've Glasgow this week and if we put a string of performances together and get a few good wins we'll be back up in the mix."
With both Ulster and Glasgow still chasing a spot in the PRO12 playoffs, Nelson is expecting a typically fierce challenge from the Scottish visitors this weekend.
"They have a few players with the Scottish team, and a couple have been released this week, but even the other players they have in the squad are very good and they will be very hungry after defeat last week to the Scarlets.
"They will be well up for it and it is a massive game for us.
"It is important this week we play for the full 80 minutes because that's what it'll take."