Yfeko aiming to build career after injury return

Johnly Yfeko has made just three league appearances this season

Exeter City defender Johnly Yfeko hopes he can kickstart his career after returning from injury.

The 22-year-old made his first League One start in almost a year last week after overcoming serious hamstring injuries.

The former Rangers player moved to City permanently in the summer after spending last season on loan at St James Park.

"I'm grateful and just can't wait to keep it going," Yfeko told BBC radio Devon having played just over an hour in the 1-0 win at Lincoln City.

"I think what probably frustrated me most was when I came back in January and then got injured again and obviously that saw me out to the end of the season.

"Football's about fine margins and if you're not doing the right thing then obviously your body will suffer and I'm guessing that's what happened to me.

"It's just about a learning curve, luckily still I'm young, I've still got a lot to learn and from now it's just to build and try and make a career for myself."

Yfeko signed a two year deal in the summer after triggering an option in his loan from Rangers.

He has made just 17 appearances for City since first joining on loan and started just 12 league games.

But manager Gary Caldwell says Yfeko proved how much he had been missed with his performance at Sincil Bank.

"I think everyone can see that the first half in particular, his presence in the team, his physicality, his quality and bravery in playing out I thought he was outstanding in the first half," Caldwell said.

"He tired a little bit in the second half and there was some mistakes that come from probably him not playing and a little bit of fatigue.

"But when we have Johnly available and fit, which hasn't happened often since he's signed, then I think the whole team has a different look about it.

"Hopefully we've progressed him through this week again and we'll see how many minutes he can play on Saturday, but he's definitely someone that when he plays the team looks much stronger and much better."

And the defender says he was grateful for the support he got from his team-mates during his spell on the sidelines.

He feels he has learnt much about the game from watching matches while injured, which he has begun implementing in his performances.

"I think when you're watching from the fans' point of view the game is completely different how you see it on the pitch," he said.

"Even now, when I've played a couple of games that I've played, thinking back to when I was watching I know sometimes I've got way more time on the ball than I think I do or that I don't."