It is hell for a footballer to be there in a big coat when you’re desperate to be out on the pitch with your boots on. You want to help your team-mates, but you are useless to them. I just can’t put myself through that.

Even listening to commentary on the radio can be torture. During the last few weeks, while I have been out of action with this hamstring problem, I tend to occupy myself by going home for the weekend to see my family, and possibly watch Accrington Stanley. At the final whistle on Saturday afternoon I get a text to let me know how Birmingham have got on.

Unfortunately the last two texts have brought bad news with our defeats to Leicester and Middlesbrough. However, we are not despairing; we are still in an excellent position to qualify for Europe next season. We are seventh and only three points from fourth place, which takes you in to the Champions League.

It is very tight up there with about six clubs jockeying for those European places, and as I have said all along, I believe we are good enough to get one of them. What an achievement that would be in only our second season in the Premiership. Now is the time to push on and stack up the points, which will hopefully begin against Leeds this Saturday lunchtime.

Of course, our run-in to the season won’t feature Christophe Dugarry, who sadly left the club a couple of weeks ago. I wasn’t too surprised he decided to call it a day at St Andrews. He’s had some niggling injuries, and being such a great player and knowing you’re not quite right must be very frustrating.

I rated him very highly as a player, but never saw him at his very best. The lads who were here last year raved about how he helped keep them in the Premiership. We will miss him, but we have done well without him so far this season and I am sure that can continue.