Jose Enrique is renowned for being one of the loudest characters within the Liverpool squad – but even he admits he's been a bit more sprightly than usual lately.

The Spaniard is in buoyant mood around Melwood having returned to Barclays Premier League action after a 10-month layoff due to injury after coming on as a late substitute against Tottenham Hotspur on August 31.

Enrique concedes that enforced absence has served to heighten his appreciation for the game and he's relishing every training session as if it were his first.

"I've always appreciated football, I've always loved training and I've always loved playing even more," he told Liverpoolfc.com. "But now, every time I go into training, I am like a child getting back with the team.

"Last year, I came to train alone all of the time while my teammates were outside. For a long time, I was alone and training in the gym because I was injured.

"Now I am training with my teammates again, I feel like the happiest guy in the world. I want to play - but I am so happy just to be back and training.

"It is true what they say in life, when something happens to you, you appreciate things more. That's what's happened to me."

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Enrique took part in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Melwood on Friday - a game he confesses he approached like a top-flight fixture.

"I am looking forward. We had a friendly at Melwood recently and I looked forward to it like it was a Premier League game," he smiled. "10 months without playing is a long, long time.

"I have been training every day, but games are completely different, so these types of friendlies are fantastic. I feel like a child right now, I am so happy.

"Even in my personal life, I am so happy right now - I'm really, really good. I feel really happy here."

As issue in his right knee that required surgery meant Enrique made just nine appearances last season.

The 28-year-old acknowledges it was one of the toughest periods he's faced in his career.

"It was difficult because I didn't know at which point I'd be back, so psychologically it was really hard for me," he explained.

"Luckily, this is all in the past - I am fit again, I've been good and I'm now hopefully injury-free again."

Now back in contention, Enrique is now aiming to stake his claim for a regular starting berth in the left-back position.

But it's not only fitness he's hoping to build up over the coming weeks and months - confidence will be key too, he believes.

Enrique said: "To get to your maximum level, it depends a lot on the confidence of the player. I think it's the most important thing.

"You see players have an amazing season and then have a bad season. People say, 'why is that?' but it's all about confidence. Players don't go from being the best to the worst in one year - it's about confidence. I am still trying to get to my best and I want to get that confidence.

"When I arrived here, for the first six months I felt I played well and I want to get to that level. And I will get there - I know that."