BARRY Ferguson feels like a kid in a sweet shop after playing a full and active role in Blackburn Rovers pre-season build-up.
And Rovers new skipper says he can't wait to show the Ewood Park supporters just how good he is.
The Scottish international missed seven months of his first season at the club after breaking his knee cap in a horror injury.
But he has now been given the green light on his fitness after coming through a gruelling pre-season that included a 10-day trip to Germany.
"It's been pretty hard but I have had good three weeks," said the midfield play-maker.
"I've done every session, every double session and played in every game so far.
"I'm like a wee boy in a sweet shop running around like crazy."
Ferguson admitted to feeling a little rusty in Germany but said he was back to near full fitness in the match at Stockport County.
"That was the first game where I felt back near enough to full fitness. The games in Germany I was a bit rusty, obviously after not playing for seven months.
"But the Stockport game was a good work out. They are a half decent team and it was a good victory and a good performance.
He added: "The injury is fully behind me now. I get a lot of stiffness after a match in my calves and hamstrings but nothing to do with my knee."
Ferguson said he now aims to show the Rovers fans just why Graeme Souness paid £6.5m to bring him down from Rangers.
"I'm eager to improve and show the supporters what I can do.
"They only really saw what I could do in the four or five games before my injury. So hopefully this season it will be fine."
Ferguson admitted he found it hard to be on the sidelines for so long last season - and said it was virtually impossible to watch any games.
"I missed seventh months which is a long time for me as it was my first serious injury.
"To be honest, I only went to about two or three games because I am not a great watcher of football when I'm not playing."
But the 26-year-old says that fellow long-term injury victim David Thompson proved to be a great help.
"It was a difficult time but it helped me with Thommo being injured at the same time."
"But now I'm just delighted to be back."
Blackburn Rovers reserves beat Morecambe 4-1 in a friendly at Christie Park last night.
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