GRAEME Murty says he is determined to be back in first team contention as soon as possible after taking a significant step on his comeback trail this week.

The veteran full-back returned to action following a serious knee ligament injury in the reserves' 2-1 win over Bristol City at Staplewood on Monday night.

The 34 year-old crowned an excellent all-round display with his first goal since April 2006, a stunning long-range strike that levelled things up for Saints.

Just as impressive was how physically strong Murty looked during his hour-long return having spent the best part of three months on the sidelines after suffering the injury in only his fourth game for Saints, the Carling Cup clash against Birmingham in August.

And after his reserves run out, he said: "I don't know (when I will be ready for the first team).

"I just need games.

"I want to see how I recover from this one. That's an important part for me.

"But as long as I can get back into training and keep pushing myself then the manager will have to be the judge of that.

"But for me I want to get there as soon as I can and put myself into contention."

He added: "It was great (to be back out on the pitch). It's been so frustrating just to watch the lads.

"They have been brilliant with me, trying to keep me involved.

"But you never feel a part of it unless you are getting out there.

"You can run as much as you want.You can do as much work in the gym and on the bike but getting games is what matters for me and I'm just pleased to get through 60 minutes.

"I feel good. It's coming back to me.

"It's just going to take a little bit of time to get my match fitness up but hopefully I can keep working as hard as that."

With no reserve team games scheduled for another month it was understandably difficult for Murty to be too specific on his first-team comeback plans.

"You have got to graft through training," he continued, when asked how he plans to build up his match fitness in the absence of any second string games.

"We wear a heart rate monitor every day so the sports scientists make sure we are working hard enough.

"But I'm sure there will be some games organised for us so we can get some games in."

Of his long-range stunner, which, although it came in a reserve fixture in front of just a handful of onlookers, was still celebrated wildly by Murty and his team-mates, the jovial Scot added:

“I’m as happy as Larry!

“I thought I’d be really casual and just jog back to the halfway line and then I got a bit carried away.

“I was at least 45 yards out. It’s getting further away every time I talk about it.

“I’m going to ask for the DVD and everything.”