The midfielder has missed a huge amount of football in recent seasons, but after a summer break and a pre-season that was carefully managed, even to the point of holding him back when he was raring to do more, Forshaw finally took a huge step toward his ultimate goal with an hour of action against Crewe Alexandra in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.
“It was amazing," he told the BBC.
"I’m back living the dream and enjoying myself. Every day I’m smiling, I’m training, I'm starting to play games now and build fitness. It was tough, I'm not going to lie. It took away from me my biggest passion in the world. To be back, I’m just pleased, relieved.
“I had a little bit of butterflies, but I was fine to be honest and excited all day.
"Then when we came out I had the jitters a little bit but couldn’t wait to get going and get a touch on the ball, I loved it.
“I felt great and I feel really good.
“First and foremost I’ve been pain free now for the whole of pre-season and I am gradually building my fitness," he said.
“The manager, the staff and the physios have been brilliant with me, they’ve managed my load. I've been like a caged animal at times, desperate to do more. But they've been making the decisions on how many minutes I've been playing, so I have to thank them for that."
We’ve gathered the best of today’s Premier League speculation below…
"I’m back living the dream and enjoying myself. Every day I’m smiling, I’m training, I'm starting to play games now and build fitness. It was tough, I'm not going to lie. It took away from me my biggest passion in the world. To be back, I’m just pleased, relieved.
5. Clarets keen on Tavernier
Middlesbrough attacking midfielder Marcus Tavernier is on the radar of Burnley. (Daily Mail) (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)
Photo: Jacques Feeney
6. Cornet on brink of Burnley move
Lyon wide man Maxwel Cornet is on the brink of completing his much-anticipated move to Burnley. (Foot Mercato) (Photo by Franck Fife/Pool via Getty Images)
Photo: Pool
7. Reading keen on Gaich
Leeds United and West Ham have been joined by Reading in the pursuit of CSKA Moscow striker Adolfo Gaich. (Reading Chronicle) (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
Photo: Masashi Hara
8. Hammers consider McKennie move
West Ham have been linked with a move for Weston McKennie at Juventus. (TuttoSport) (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images for Lega Serie A)
Photo: Claudio Villa