"It was nice to get out there and play and I felt okay fitness-wise," he told the official site, after playing with the Under 21's in their match against Fulham on Monday. "I really enjoy coming and playing football with the younger guys.
"I think the most important thing was just getting the minutes under my belt. It's always nice to score but I think the main thing for me was really to just get through the game and test myself to see how my fitness is and how my sharpness is.
"I was happy and it's a case of onwards and upwards now and hopefully I can be available for the first team.
"Whether it's here or at Anfield, a game of football is a game of football and I really enjoyed it.
"Football has always been about joy and about passion, for me. I love playing and I couldn't be at a better club for that because Liverpool is based on passion."
Manager Rodgers arrived at the club's Kirkby-based Academy just in time to watch Cole cut inside from the left and curl the ball right-footed past the Fulham 'keeper to give the U21s an early lead.
"I think the manager will probably assess my fitness on Tuesday and Wednesday and we'll go from there," said Cole. "I'm keen to get going as soon as possible because reserve-team football is great but I just need to get back in the first team.
"Obviously I'm not 100 per cent fit because I haven't played every game but I just need to get involved. I want to be out there and playing."