I may need an operation, I may need to take painkillers before every match but I’m ready to put everything into the final few games of the season.

I finally returned to action on Saturday against Norwich after my knee injury – and although I had only returned to full training the previous day, I’m fighting fit.

I had to have a bit of ice on the knee afterwards because it was a bit sore after a month out but I didn’t have any reaction and that’s good news.

I’ve also got an operation coming up for my hernia – I’m falling apart! - but we can’t book it in just yet because we don’t know when our season will end.

The hernia doesn’t restrict me, though. I rattle about with all the tablets I take and they ease the pain for 90 minutes - I’ll make it through 20 more games if I have to, let alone the six we could need if we’re forced to go into the play-offs.

That prospect looks more likely after Saturday’s defeat but we’re still only three points off second place and such have been the results at the top of the table recently that no-one knows what to expect next.

Gillingham were missing three centre-halves when they played Leeds last weekend, yet won 3-2. It’s hard to believe but I don’t think any of the top six or seven in the league are in the top six in the form table and that illustrates how much pressure is on teams at the end of the season.

I’ve got a great record against Norwich – I’ve scored more goals against them in my career than any other side - so I felt confident when I came on for Akpo Sodje, who had picked up a thigh strain, just before half-time.

Unfortunately, just as the likes of Nicky Bailey, Therry Racon and Nicky Forster discovered, we were playing against a goalkeeper in unbelievable form.

Fraser Forster was excellent and perhaps he deserved a bit of luck late on when Christian Dailly’s instinctive header hit his arm and bounced off his face into his hands without him knowing much about it.

There is no question we deserved something from the game.

We were the better side and dominated for long periods. In fact, it was probably one of our best performances of the season, apart from the result.

But we have to put that behind us and move on to Exeter on Saturday.

It’s still all to play for, we’re still looking at second place and we’ve still got Leeds to play at home.