He told the club website
"I felt in the second half of the match against Middlesbrough that I was starting to get up to the standard of a season and a half ago.
"I'm starting to get the fitness back and although it is going to take a few more games it's just pleasing to get another 90 minutes under my belt and hopefully I can now stay in there for the rest of the season."
Eircom League top scorer Dave Mooney is on trial at Blackburn Rovers. He was said to be joining Cork City but the 19 goal hitman would rather try his chances in England.
Villa boss Marin O'Neill has spoke out against Southampton and now Scotland boss George Burley for leaving on loan Corkman Stephen O'Halloran out of the Saints team.
Taken from eleven-a-side.com O'Neill said
"We allowed young O'Halloran to go to Southampton because they asked for him. Lots of other clubs had asked me about him not as high up as Southampton I might add but they were very well meaning.
"But Southampton assured me they wanted him so he would get games and so that being the case I said yes.
"Stephen went there only to find out he wasn't even on the bench for their game last week. Lots of teams who would have been happy to put him in their team asked me about Stephen.
"I realise George Burley had been approached for the Scotland job but I don't think the two should be related. At the end of the day Stephen was told he would play. The idea was to get a game or two at Championship level but if they're not going to play him why ask for him?"