Uchida fine after comeback match

Japan international Atsuto Uchida says he had no problems during his comeback match after being out of action since September with a thigh injury.

Uchida started and played 77 minutes in Schalke’s goalless home draw with AEK Larnaca in the Europea League on Thursday and told reporters after the game he felt fine.

“I could move better than I thought. I’d forgotten during the match that this was my comeback,” Uchida said.

The Japanese defender, who joined Schalke from Kashima Antlers in June 2010, sustained the injury during club training in late September.

Uchida, 23, has had a stop-start 2011/12 season, having only made three Bundesliga starts, but he said recovering from the thigh injury was a new beginning for him.

“I feel like my second season (with Schalke) has finally started,” he said.

Uchida’s return from injury is also timely for Japan ahead of next week’s World Cup qualifiers against Tajikistan and North Korea.