Dean Windass today made the bold promise never to fall out with referees again.

City's top scorer is ready to put the bad old days of clashing with officials behind him.

Windass, who has just finished a five-game ban for yelling abuse at

referee Darren Drysdale in the Valley Parade car park, knows he is there to be shot at by the critics with his pledge.

But he is determined to be the model pro and keep his mouth shut with the whistle-blowers.

Windass, who is two bookings off a further suspension, said: "Missing so many games hit me quite hard and I've learned from it. I'm going to make sure it will never happen again.

"I'm never going to change what I am and if I lost that edge to my game then I wouldn't be the same player. But I've got to be clever and not talk myself into trouble.

"I want to move into management or coaching one day and I can't go about doing that all the time. There are younger lads in the dressing room who look up to me and I'm not setting the right example."

Windass is in line to return against Scunthorpe on Saturday, making it

an extra special 37th birthday for the 16-goal frontman.

He added: "I've never wished for my birthday to come around so quickly in my life. I'm champing at the bit to get back playing.

"I felt I've let the gaffer down as well as the players. It's down to me just as much as the others when they've lost because I've not been out there on the pitch and available to play.

"It will feel brilliant to get back on Saturday if I'm picked but that's down to the manager.

"They got a good result at Walsall and whatever he decides, I will accept it. I have no divine right to jump straight back in the team and I won't moan if I'm only on the bench."

Windass finished last season on a hot scoring streak with seven goals in the final seven games. He is gunning for another prolific run to make up for lost time.

"I'm only four behind in the list of top scorers for all competitions in League One so hopefully I'll get to that 20-goal mark. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.

"I felt as though I was on schedule to beat last year's 28 but that's beyond me now with the suspension.

"But it's a good time of year for scoring goals because people get tired and nervous and start making mistakes.

"That's what happened at Walsall and we capitalised on that."