TINO Livramento labelled it a “special moment” to make his injury comeback in a Premier League 2 clash in front of his parents and revealed he targets a return to senior action this season.

It has been 355 days since Livramento left the pitch taking oxygen and on a stretcher at Brighton & Hove Albion with an ACL injury, on April 24 last year.

The club had hoped the young defender – who was a breakout star in his first season in senior football – would have returned at the beginning of 2023.

Another setback in the winter cost him four more months but Livramento has remained positive and got the first portion of his rewards as he stepped out onto the surface at Staplewood Campus.

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Livramento played 45 minutes as the B team guaranteed themselves Premier League 2 playoffs with a win over Stoke City and have bolstered their chances of a home draw in the process.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo after the match, Livramento said: “I came through it better than I thought it would, it is a special moment for me and obviously my mum and dad are here as well.

“I’ve been excited since the moment I woke up knowing that I’d be playing, I couldn’t wait. The main thing was to be back and in a competitive match, even if it was the under-21s.

“The (Saints) team has been so good with me, there have been a lot of players at similar ages so it has been tough to watch them play week-in, week-out and almost think that could be you.

“But you’ve got to focus on your own journey and support the team, I can’t wait to be back on the pitch with the guys as we’re a tight-knit group and I’ll be there again supporting them tomorrow.”

He added: “I’m not going to sit here and say I don’t want to play before the end of the season as I feel that’s easily achievable for me. The medical staff behind me are always going to back me.

“It’s definitely achievable, but playing tonight and seeing how my leg is tomorrow and how my body is going to adapt to playing again will be key, but I feel strong and I’m ready for whatever the club throws at me.”

Livramento had one assist for Dom Ballard ruled out for offside in his first 45 minutes before a nervy moment with back-to-back 50/50 tackles leaving him in a heap on the surface.

The challenge was with Stoke City’s impressive Gabriel Adebambo – who was booked in the process – but Livramento smiled as he reminded the Daily Echo he won his tackles.

“I had the injury against Brighton but another setback in December and as soon as that happened I said no matter what, I’m going to go into everything 100 per cent – I’ve got no time to waste,” he said.

“If I get injured again, it will be because I’ve given everything to the game and not because I was not going into a tackle or being a bit lazy or something like that.

“I wanted to make sure when I got the opportunity I would be giving 100 per cent whatever happens and it’s almost better to have that now so when it happens in a Premier League game I’m mentally ready. I was happy I won my tackle.”

Although the grey skies cleared - just as the heavens opened up over Marchwood - and Livramento is, at his own pace, looking forward to putting it all behind him.

Daily Echo: Southampton's Tino Livramento during the FA Cup match between Southampton and Coventry City at St Mary's Stadium. Photo by Stuart Martin..

But it has no doubt been a dark time for the 20 year old, who played almost every minute of the first 18 Premier League matches of his debut senior and debut Saints campaign.

He has watched on as relative turmoil has unfolded at the club since his cruel afternoon at Brighton almost exactly a year ago – with the third manager of the season, Ruben Selles, in attendance at Staplewood to see Livramento’s return.

“Anyone would say it but it teaches you a lot about yourself, when I was younger and injury-free I saw a lot of teammates go through what I’ve been through in the last months,” Livramento admitted.

“You understand and sympathise with them a lot more as you realise how hard it is to come back from the injuries I’ve had but it’s made me a lot stronger mentally and physically as well.

“It’s a part of my journey to get to the top and I’ve just got to relish the moment and look to push on. It’s been tough obviously watching this season.

“But it’s made me understand how I can impact the team if I come back, and bring something different. We’ve got time to put it right and that’s the main thing.”