Paul has represented England at under-19 level

Leeds Carnegie back-row Danny Paul has said he is desperate to repay the faith shown in him after returning from a year absence with injury.

The back-row underwent surgery twice on his shoulder and had hoped to play in March, but finally made his return in Friday's friendly against Agen.

Paul told BBC Radio Leeds: "Leeds put a lot of faith in me this last year.

"Knowing the coach has got full belief in me is a big bonus, I've got to prove that I'm worth what they think I am."

The 23-year-old, who was brought on as a substitute for the pre-season game which Carnegie lost 31-6, admitted he was just relieved to come through unscathed.

"I was a bit nervous in the week building up to the game and when I finally got back out there, I couldn't put it into words really, finally getting my hands on the ball.

"The biggest outcome of the game was to just get through without feeling my shoulder."

Paul appeared in Carnegie's first three games as a substitute and said he feared his shoulder injury, which should have taken two or three months to recover from, could have been the end of his career.

He admitted: "I actually feared the worst at one point and that would probably be it but I had another operation to rectify what happened and luckily I've come through the other side.

If I can get on the bench because I can play more than one position then I'm more than happy to do it Danny Paul

"It was just being in the team environment when we've been training throughout the week, just running into the pads again and doing the simple things like lifting in the lineout and chatting to the boys in the field.

"That's the thing I've missed most. It's been quite lonely, there were one or two of us with shoulder injuries last year - it was just us sat in a room."

But for now, Paul is just happy to be able to play, and admitted he would take up any position Neil Back puts him in.

"I played six and also in the row so I'm hoping I can prove that I can do it.

"And if it means I can get on the bench because I can play more than one position then I'm more than happy to do it."

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