He told the Oxford Mail: “Before the game, I was a bit nervous because of what happened last time where I only lasted six minutes. But once I was in the game and making tackles it felt normal to be back out there again.
“I think now I can go into every game thinking I’m back to being the Shandon I was before I got injured. That was a big relief and going into the game it was one of the big points I needed to tick off before I could say to the manager ‘I’m ready to be involved’ if he wants me.”
It was on a visit to the Memorial Stadium last season where Baptiste injury troubles began after suffering a shoulder injury.
He added: “It will be a weird one going back there where it happened, but I’m strong-minded so it wouldn’t really affect me. It’s just nice to be back out on the green grass.”
It will be great to see Baptiste back. His exciting performances in the early stages of last season were a bright light in an otherwise dull team that struggled.
He captained the U’s in their Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City and scored a stunning goal as they edged past Newport County in an earlier round.
