Making his long-awaited return to football on Wednesday night, there was a sense of disbelief surrounding the manner of Seamus Coleman's performance.
Playing his first game under Sam Allardyce, "outstanding" was the only way the Everton boss could describe such a return.
Not only match-fit, Coleman appeared fitter than anyone else on the pitch also; as demonstrated by an 80-yard sprint up the wing, with the ball at his feet, as the match moved into extra-time.
After suffering such a traumatic injury whilst playing against Wales for Ireland last March, the only one who doesn't seem surprised about the nature of this return is the Ireland captain himself:
I've made sure I've come back fitter and stronger and faster. I know it's a cliche, but it's what I want to do.
I've made sure I've worked hard the last 10 months. I've always said if you've got a strong mind, that's half the battle.
Since joining Everton from Sligo Rovers in 2009, the Donegal man has demonstrated this strength of mind consistently. Named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in 2013/14, Coleman has established himself as one of the most reliable performers across the league.
An unshakable sense of self-confidence is no small contributing factor to this:
I know injuries and tiredness is part of the game but I fully believed going into that game [against Leicester City] that I'd be fitter and stronger than everyone else.
I'd worked hard for the last 10 months ... and I fully believed I would come back and do well.
With his club career slipping back into the groove, thoughts of the conclusion to Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign are hardly too far from Coleman's mind.
Forced to watch on as the team "just weren't at it" in the second playoff leg against Denmark, Coleman is nonetheless "delighted" that Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane will still be in situ upon his international return.
Before he has a chance to think too seriously about Ireland however, Coleman and his Everton teammates must turn their attention toward tomorrow evening's Premier League tie against Arsenal.
Seamus Coleman was speaking to Daniel McDonnell in today's Irish Independent.
