Damien Johnson says he is delighted to be playing football again after missing a large chunk of the past year because of a back problem.

The midfielder returned, who played in last weekend's FA Cup 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest told the Birmingham Mail: "I feel OK, I feel fine.

"I've had a couple of reserve games as well. It's just good to be a part of it, back involved.

"The atmosphere is nice, there's a good bunch of lads and a good spirit about the place.

"Days like at Forest, it was good for me just to get out there and show people I'm still around.

"My contract's up, yes, but it's just about staying fit and being available at the moment.

"My ideal scenario would be to stay at Birmingham but sometimes that's out of your hands.

"My priority is to stay fit and stay a part of things, be ready when I'm called on.

"I think there are a lot of lads in the same situation."

Johnson, Blues' longest-serving player, added: "It has been a difficult couple of weeks weather-wise to get some proper training in.

"So it was good for someone like myself that the gaffer decided to mix things up a bit at Forest.

"It wasn't so much that I hadn't been playing, but not even training. We've been down at the David Lloyd gym a lot, which isn't ideal because you want to be on the pitch doing the football-type fitness work.

"But we were all desperate to play regardless, experienced lads like myself, Kevin Phillips, Lee Carsley. It was good to get an opportunity."