Radamel Falcao insisted his injury problems are in the past and claimed he is fully fit for Manchester United.
The striker returned for Saturday's 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers after being omitted from the 18-man squad to face Southampton six days earlier.
And while Falcao missed two good chances, he believes it was a step in the right direction.
"I am fine," he told national newspapers. "I feel really good. I am playing without any sort of fitness problems.
"It was 90 very important minutes for me. I need to play and I am very happy I did."
Falcao had his 2014 interrupted by a cruciate ligament problem and then a further injury setback and he has only scored three goals for United since arriving on loan from Monaco.
He added: "Obviously, I really hope to score soon but the opportunities will come, I am sure of that.
"I am very happy with the win. It was a difficult game but we managed the match well and got the three points.
"I could have had two goals. Sadly, the goalkeeper did very well and the other chances were not that clear."
Manager Louis van Gaal, who was criticised for dropping Falcao altogether the previous week, restored him to the team as the injured Robin van Persie missed the trip to Loftus Road.
And he said it was important he treated everyone the same, saying: "We have 29 players so then we have to talk about 29 players, not one player, because Manchester United has a selection of 29 players and maybe tomorrow 28 or 30. Not just one player.
"I'm a manager and you can't always give the credit to the most expensive player and if a young player never gets a chance then I'm not a very good manager.
"I have to treat all of the players at the same level with the same rules and same demands. It's difficult to understand because the outside world is thinking when you pay a lot for the player then you have to put him in the squad. I do not agree with that opinion. But he [Falcao] has played and I was very pleased."