By Mark Mitchener

Tindall joined Bournemouth on a free from Charlton in 1998

The hectic festive football schedule has left many managers bemoaning the fact that they have to play so many games in such a short space of time.

But one man with cause to remember Monday, 2 January 2006 fondly will be Jason Tindall.

The Bournemouth utility man's 86th minute appearance as a substitute in their 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe at Dean Court will have merited little more than a footnote in the Bank Holiday statistics.

However, it was Tindall's first taste of first-team action for the best part of two years, after a serious knee injury threatened to end his career.

"I've been waiting for this moment for such a long time," he told BBC Sport.

"Although I was only on the pitch for a short time, it was just great to be back. I've put a lot of hard work in trying to get myself fit, but this has made everything worthwhile.

"I'm over the moon, as there are times when you never think this opportunity will come along again, and I'm just so glad it did."

It crossed my mind that I might not play again Jason Tindall

The 28-year-old's last competitive outing had been on 24 April 2004, in a 1-0 win at Peterborough, before a recurrence of an injury from earlier in the campaign ended his season prematurely.

After an unsuccessful comeback in pre-season that summer, Tindall missed the entire 2004/05 season - and fearing he might not play again, decided to seek the help of the renowned knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman in Colorado, USA.

Dr Steadman is the man who successfully operated on household names like Ronaldo, Alan Shearer and Ruud van Nistelrooy when they were struck down with serious knee problems.

"It was a decision I had to make for my football career, as it was something I've always dreamt of since I was a boy, and I wasn't prepared to throw it away without a fight," Tindall insisted.

"I was aware of Dr Steadman, as I'd had a lot of good advice from close friends and good reports from people who'd been to see him.

"He assured me I'd be back, and for him to say that gave me a big lift, and gave me even more determination to get myself fit and get back in the frame again."

Tindall arrived at Dean Court from Charlton in 1998 as a midfielder, but became a regular in the side after being switched to central defence when Sean O'Driscoll replaced Mel Machin as manager.

I just want to get back playing on a regular basis. If I can do that and stay injury-free, I'll be a very happy man Jason Tindall

His versatility has been sorely missed by O'Driscoll's small squad - as with four other centre-backs sidelined, the Cherries have spent the last two months fielding a back four comprising four full-backs.

"Being out for as long as I have was hard to take because I'd gone so long without any injuries, and then they all seemed to come at once," Tindall said.

"Everything was hard to cope with - you just never think you're going to get back playing again. You put all the hard work in, but you can never see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"It crossed my mind that I might not play again because I'd had a few operations on my knee before I decided to go over to America and get it done.

"But my family have been great - especially my wife Claudine. She's obviously the closest person to me, but she's been there for me through thick and thin.

"There have been times where I've been really down and disappointed, but she's always the first one to lift me and get a smile back on my face.

"She's been a rock to me, and without her I don't think I'd be in the position I'm in now."

Having to wait nearly 21 months between his 184th and 185th appearances for Bournemouth, Tindall is now happy to fulfil the oft-quoted footballing maxim of taking one game at a time.

"This game was a special moment for me - what better way to start than the first game of the new year," he said.

"Hopefully I can look forward to good things in 2006.