Portland Timbers defender Liam Ridgewell was finally back in the lineup Sunday after being left off the game day roster for four-straight matches.

And it was quite a return for Ridgewell, who helped lead the Timbers to their first clean sheet of the season as the club beat New York City FC 3-0.

"It felt brilliant," Ridgewell said. "I was very pleased to be back out there and even more pleased to get a clean sheet and a win."

Ridgewell, who became Portland's captain in 2015, started and wore the captain's armband in the first two games of the 2018 season as the Timbers posted back-to-back losses on the road.

But after the club lost 4-0 to the New York Red Bulls on March 10, Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese made the decision to bench Ridgewell. Ridgewell was left off the game day roster for four-straight matches before returning to the lineup against New York City FC Sunday.

While Savarese has been vague in discussing his decision to bench Ridgewell, the move came after the center back was criticized for his perceived lack of effort in the March 10 match against the Red Bulls.

After Sunday's game, Ridgewell declined to go into details about his conversations with Savarese over the last month and a half, but did say it was difficult for him to be left off the game day roster for four-straight matches.

"The last four games have probably been the worst time in my Timbers career as a player," Ridgewell said. "I think being dropped from the team was obviously disappointing. We had conversations -- conversations I'm not going to dive into -- but disagreements as people would do. I want to play in every single game and Gio is here to do the best for the team, as am I."

Ridgewell said he didn't know if he would have had the opportunity to return to the lineup Sunday if center back Bill Tuiloma (knee sprain) hadn't suffered an injury in training this week.

But when he found out that he was going to play, Ridgewell said he wanted to make the most of his opportunity back on the field.

"It was probably Bill getting injured," Ridgewell said. "I can't read the gaffer's mind and Gio's mind on what he's going to do, but obviously Bill got injured and it gave me an opportunity."

Ridgewell said that he felt he proved something in his return to the lineup Sunday by helping the club earn a clean sheet and secure a huge win over NYCFC, who is currently the top team in MLS.

"I think I just proved it," Ridgewell said. "To come out and keep a clean sheet and do well for this club."

Savarese also praised Ridgewell's performance after the match.

"Liam had a fantastic match," Savarese said. "He was very good today. He brought in a lot of experience in the back and I was very pleased with his performance today as part of the entire group."

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg