Stephen glad to be back after lay-off
Stephen injured medial ligaments in Albion's away win over London Welsh at Old Deer Park on November 14.
But he returned to the squad on Saturday as Albion drew 13-13 with the same opponents.
Stephen was among Albion's replacements and took to the field after Welsh scored a try in the eighth-minute of injury-time, but the referee blew the final whistle straight after Aled Thomas' conversion attempt so he did not see any action.
"I don't even know if that technically counts as a substitution," said Stephen.
The Canadian was desperately waiting to get on the field as Rory Watts-Jones was down injured in the middle of the field, leaving Albion having to defend with 14 men.
But there was no stoppage in play to allow Albion to make the change.
"Rory went down with a knock, but you have to wait for a whistle to make the change. You can't just put someone on," said Stephen. "Unfortunately, the whistle did not come until they scored the try.
"It was just unfortunate to have the game end that way."
Although disappointed Albion could only draw with high-flying London Welsh, Stephen is glad to be back in the first team squad again after so long out.
"The knee feels fine," he said. "It is just a matter of working my way back in.
"I just need to get some game-time and find some match fitness and some form.
"But you can't really do that without playing.
"I just have to bide my time. The back-row is playing really well, so I just have to wait my turn."
He added: "I was really frustrated initially when I got injured as I felt my form was pretty good.
"But, hopefully, I can get back to the same form."
Stephen hopes he may get a chance to get some game-time this weekend when Albion play the Cornish Pirates in the British & Irish Cup.
"I don't really know how Graham (Dawe) will play things for the cup," said Stephen.
"But if wants to give some guys a rest then it would be a good opportunity for me to get some game-time and put pressure on the rest of the back-row."
Stephen admits the Albion players would prefer to be playing Birmingham-Solihull in the league rather than turning their attentions to the cup this weekend.
The way the fixture list has worked out, all the Championship teams take a one-week break from league action this weekend before returning to that competition the following Saturday.
They will then play two cup games before playing their final league matches.
Albion need to win at least one – if not both – their remaining league matches against struggling Birmingham and Doncaster to have a chance of securing a promotion play-off place.
"We have a few injuries but not too many so we don't really need the rest from the league," said Stephen.
"And although we tied on Saturday (against London Welsh) and lost the two previous games (away at Bristol and Nottingham) we have played pretty well.
"Our form has been all right, so I think the guys would like to crack on with the league and worry about the cup once that's over with."
Stephen, like the rest of the Albion players, remains optimistic they can still book a top-eight place.
Had they beaten London Welsh they would have been in a great position to do so.
Now, despite sitting in eighth place, they are relying on Doncaster not winning their games in hand or Moseley failing to beat both Exeter and Bristol.
"It is hard to say how things will play out," said Stephen.
"But I think we definitely need to get a win and at least get points out of the other game.
"We certainly don't want to sit on the points total we have now and hope for everyone else to lose."
Stephen certainly does not want to be facing a relegation scrap.
"I think it would be a pretty fierce competition in that bottom four, so guys are working hard to try and avoid that," he said.
But wherever Albion finish, Stephen is looking forward to showing supporters what he can do.
"I would love to play my part anyway I can to help the team," he added.
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