Vidic Content With Comeback

Nemanja Vidic was highly satisfied with his return to action after eight months on the sidelines.

United's club captain completed an hour of the Reds' goalless draw with Valerenga in Norway, and he now hopes to be able to kick on and draw a line under the frustration of his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury.

"I felt well," the Serbian told MUTV. "After eight months without a game it's obvious that you have to get used to your positioning, and still fitness-wise it's not as hopefully it will be in a few weeks, but I'm pleased. My knee felt well, I felt well and hopefully the next game will be better.

"It was frustrating, but obviously I knew I would be out for six months. I tried to make the best of it, to work hard and when I come back to be the same as I was before the injury. This was my target and we'll see how good a job I did in that six months. It's hard, but it's part of the football career. Any sportsman has the risk of injuries and hopefully this is the past and better days are coming for me."

Vidic admitted that the stalemate at the Ullevaal Stadium was a positive experience in spite of the result, and is now looking forward to next week's meeting with Barcelona in Gothenburg as the Reds' pre-season preparations continue.

"It went well," he said. "Obviously it was the first appearance for a few players, obviously myself as well. It was a good test. Obviously the result was not as we expected but still we had chances we didn't score. I think it was a good game and a really good test for us.

"It [Barcelona] will be a tough game, but obviously it will be a good test for us. We need those games before the league starts. We have to know it's a friendly game and it doesn't count for the trophies and points.

"Last year we beat Barcelona in a friendly game and lost in a final, and hopefully it will be a good test and we will have a good game, but we have to prepare for the Premier League and Champions League. This is our target."