Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea saw Dawson make his first senior appearance since damaging knee and ankle ligaments in freak fall on his full England debut three months ago. The injury ruled him out of all six of Spurs' Group A games in the Champions League, which they topped in thrilling fashion. Dawson was a key figure in Tottenham securing their highest ever Premier League finish of fourth last season to qualify for Europe's elite club competition. The 27-year-old also played both legs of August's play-off round before his luck turned. "Ask the wife how hard it's been - she had to put up with me for three months!" he told Spurs TV Online. "But I'm back now and enjoying every minute. "Preparing for a game at the weekend, there's no better feeling." He added of Tottenham's Champions League progress: "The lads have been fantastic. "They deserve a lot of credit for what they've done so far. "But we're only halfway through the season. "To finish top of the Champions League group with the team that were in it was credit to them. "Unfortunately, I've been sat up in the stand watching the games. "Hopefully, I get a chance in February to be playing in it." Dawson may not have started yesterday but for an injury to William Gallas. Revealing his first Spurs appearance since August felt "fantastic", he added: "A lot of work's gone into being back playing on that pitch. "It's a great feeling. "It would've been better had we had a clean sheet and got three points, but it wasn't to be." It could have been worse for Tottenham had Didier Drogba not squandered a stoppage-time penalty. Insisting his side were still "in the mix" for a first league title for 50 years, Dawson said: "We're disappointed we didn't win the game, simple as that. "But had we lost it - woah - that would've been devastating."
