Samir Nasri said he was “relieved” after playing his first competitive football match in 13 months as his new club West Ham beat Birmingham City on Saturday.
The FA Cup third-round game was Nasri’s first since November 2017 following a doping ban.
“I felt good. Honestly I thought I would struggle with the rhythm more,” Nasri said.
“I’m just relieved that everything is behind me now.”
The ex-Manchester City player featured for 58 minutes before being replaced by Robert Snodgrass as goals from Marko Arnautovic and Andy Carroll saw the Hammers into the FA Cup fourth round, the draw for which takes place on Monday.
Nasri, who joined the Hammers on 31 December 2018, will now be in contention to face his former club Arsenal at the London Stadium next Saturday.