Pompey striker Lee Mills is well ahead of schedule in recovering from his serious knee injury to begin his challenge for a first team spot at Fratton.

The 30-year-old record Blues' signing had his first outing on Tuesday when the reserves met their counterparts from Fulham.

And Mills was delighted to have played, albeit for the last 30 minutes as coach Neil McNab brought him off the substitutes' bench.

He said: "It was just like a training match for me, but it was great to get myself involved again."

Mills picked up the injury back in October at Stockport and was told at the time he would not even kick a football again until March.

Mills added: "It seemed such a long time ago, but now I must ease my way back into things and really test my knee out.

"It is really good to be back, even though I have a long way to go.

"All the training in the world does not make up for match fitness."

In fact Mills was pencilled in to play a part in the reserve match at Gillingham last week, but the match was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

Mills said: "The plan was for me to get in the last 30 minutes and then play the whole match against Fulham. But I was just glad the match was called off as I'd not have wanted to risk my knee on a bone-hard surface."

And Mills certainly appreciated the applause the 500-strong crowd gave him as he stepped off the substitutes' bench.

A smiling Mills said: "It was a bit embarrassing. They usually boo me when I'm fit but now I am over my injury they cheer me. But that's football for you."

Mills is determined to get back into contention for a first team place as soon as possible, but accepts the fact that he really needs to get several more reserve matches under his belt before that happens.

"I was brought to this club to score goals, after all, that's what I am paid for," said Mills. "So the quicker I get back into the swing of things, the quicker it will be that goals will be flowing again."

But he has not pencilled himself in for any early return date to first team action, his thoughts feature solely on displays in the reserves.

"It is just my bad luck that we don't have a reserve match next week," he said. "Perhaps the gaffer will arrange something, even if it is a training ground match, it will help me progress.

"I don't want to be out for too much longer. I have been out for so long, I even forgot where the dressing rooms were!

"If the team win their next four or five matches it would be difficult to even get back in. But once I am fully fit I will be in there challenging with the rest of the side for a place."