From Norwich to Burton, the 371 days have dragged by for Craig Fagan.

When Fagan made way for Mark Cullen an hour into Hull’s win at Carrow Road on September 25 last year, he could never imagine the personal purgatory that was about to unfold.

It would be over 12 months before he was named in a starting line-up again. A year of frustration, anger and sheer helplessness over a hip injury that grew out of all proportion.

So imagine the joy and relief when he stepped out for City at the Pirelli Stadium last week.

The modest surroundings compared with what he had been used to never came into it. Fagan was just thrilled to be back in the first 11 again – and playing all bar the last 11 minutes.

“I wouldn’t say I was nervous but more excited to be out there playing,” he said. “It’s been a long, long year.

“It felt so good to get out there, play and contribute with the second goal. I just want to make things happen.

“I wouldn’t say I’m firing on all cylinders.

“I’ve got a lot of training and games to catch up on but I felt better and sharper compared to the first 30 minutes I played at Crawley.

“There was no agenda with what time I was coming off but coming towards the end it was in my head – and probably the manager’s too – that if you’re tired, that’s when you’re more likely to pick up an injury.”

Fagan will not quibble over a few lost minutes after the non-event of last season. And he insists his recent history should not be a concern for City.

“I’ve heard a lot of people say I’m injury prone but my only other serious one had been a broken leg.

I was out for three months, which isn’t a long time in footballing terms.

“With the injection stuff and then having the operation, the hip problem ended up keeping me out a lot longer than it should have been.”

Burton rained on Fagan’s parade with their two-goal fightback, completed with a harsh penalty shout against Robbie Threlfall.

Fagan was philosophical that it cost him a winning first start.

“Jamie Devitt got a penalty the week before that some refs wouldn’t have given. Over the season those decisions do tend to equal themselves out.”

Phil Parkinson knew the quality that he was bringing in with Fagan. But he is still warning fans about expecting too much too soon for a player who has spent so long in cold storage.

The Valley Parade faithful will still expect to see number 39 on the team sheet to face Torquay.

Fagan said: “It would be good to start in front of our home fans now but there are no guarantees. It’s a massive squad, the biggest I think I’ve been involved in.

“We’re 11 games in and a lot of people expect Bradford to be higher than they are. But we’ve got a new manager now, new assistant, new tactics and new players and it’s going to take time to gel together.

“Nobody likes to hear that but everyone plays and coaches the game different. The manager and Steve Parkin have their own ideas and they started to show last week.”