Nahki Wells made his debut appearance in a Burnley shirt yesterday, coming through his first competitive match since having minor ankle surgery.

The Bermuda striker featured for his new club’s under-23 Professional Development League side, in their 1-1 draw away to Nottingham Forest.

Wells was given a starting role in Michael Duff’s side and saw an hour of action at the City Ground before being substituted for Khius Metz.

“It was good to get some minutes under my belt after a long three or four months,” Wells told the Burnley website.

“To come out of it fit and healthy is the most important thing.

“I felt good. My fitness is still lacking, but that’s going to come in the next couple of weeks.

“In training I have felt really well, but there’s nothing like playing a match.

“There’s no comparison to match fitness and I think that’s the only thing I lack at the minute, which comes through playing games.”

Having recovered from minor surgery to remove a screw in his ankle from an operation earlier in his career, Wells is determined to force his way into the Burnley first team and realise his dream of playing in the Premier League.

“I will keep training and keep playing these games when they come about to keep ticking those minutes off and before you know it I think I’ll be ready to play my part when called upon,” he said.

The 27-year-old is part of a revamped Burnley forward line, including summer signings Chris Wood, the New Zealand striker, who joined for a reported £15 million (about $19.9 million) from Leeds United, of the Sky Bet Championship, and Jonathan Walters, the Ireland forward, who arrived from Stoke City.

Wells completed a £5 million move from Burnley’s top-flight rivals Huddersfield Town on transfer-deadline day in August.

He was a key part in Huddersfield’s promotion from the English second tier last season, scoring penalties in shoot-out wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Reading in the play-offs. However, he fell down the pecking order at the John Smith’s Stadium after the arrival of Steve Mounié, their record signing, and Laurent Depoitre.

The former Dandy Town Hornets player joined Huddersfield for a then club-record £1.3 million from Bradford in January 2014 and went on to score 49 goals in 153 appearances for the West Yorkshire club.