Danny Rose thanked Tottenham supporters for his rousing reception during his first game since the controversial interview that earned him a club fine.

The England left-back played the final 10 minutes of Spurs’ 1-1 draw at Real Madrid last night in his first game since damaging his knee in the 0-0 draw at Sunderland on January 31.

During the long period away from the first team, a frustrated Rose reflected on his long-term future at Tottenham. Those reflections culminated in his explosive remarks in August, when he criticised Spurs’ wage structure and transfer policy, and asked for the club to sign players he did not need to “Google” to learn their identities.

The defender apologised for the “timing and manner” of his words soon after the interview was published but admitted he was worried how the supporters would react when he replaced Fernando Llorente at the Bernabeu.

The travelling contingent, who numbered about 4,000, chanted his name, indicating they are prepared to embrace Rose again.

Rose confirmed he was fined for what he said but declared: “My opinions will be voiced in a different way from now on. I’ve been disciplined and we move forward together as a club.

“I did what I did. I was expecting a frosty reception from the fans so I just have to say thank you to them for giving me a great reception when I came on and when I was training on the pitch after the game.

“I’m trying to look forward now for the rest of the season. First and foremost I have to try to win my shirt back. [What I said has] gone now, my manager [Mauricio Pochettino] has forgotten about it and we all move forward and we try to win this club a trophy.”

Spurs had originally hoped Rose would avoid surgery but eventually decided an operation was needed in May, after the 27-year-old failed to make the anticipated progress.

“Since I was injured it has been very difficult, very frustrating,” said Rose. “It was hard to watch the lads do well last season and even this season they’ve done very well, which has also been difficult to watch. But to come on for the last few minutes on Tuesday was special and I can’t wait to get going now.

“We were all hoping I wouldn’t need an operation. All the signs were saying I didn’t and we just hoped and hoped and we lost a bit of time. In the end we decided to have the op and here I am.

“It’s taken a lot longer than expected but I’m over the moon I’m back. I want to win my shirt back here, win my shirt back for England. I want to win something here this season and I want to be in the World Cup squad at the end of the season. My season starts now.”

Rose had expected to make his return against West Ham in the Carabao Cup at Wembley next Wednesday but with fellow left-back Ben Davies injured, Pochettino decided to include Rose in the squad for Madrid even though he had been back in training for only a week.

When Rose did come in, he played in midfield — a position he is familiar with from his days as a youth player at Leeds and his initial period at Spurs.

Rose explained: “The plan in my head was to play some minutes against West Ham. I did well in training on Sunday and I got in the changing room and was getting ready to have a shower.

“The manager called me upstairs and said: ‘You’re doing well, do you think you could do 10, 15 minutes in Madrid?’ I said, ‘Yes, of course, no problem.’

“It’s just been an unexpected couple of days because I thought I would be watching the game on TV at home. It’s amazing he put me on in midfield as well.

“It’s been a frustrating period but this last couple of days has made it all worth it.”