In these cash-strapped times at City, Simon Ramsden can understand those who reckon he’s been nothing more than a waste of money.

The rotten results have left supporters wanting to lash out in frustration and looking for targets. Ramsden, limited by injury to just three appearances all term, is an easy one.

The man himself can sympathise – and even agrees to some extent.

His latest comeback a fortnight ago was over before it began as he broke down in the first training session.

It has been one long nightmare for the defender Peter Jackson calls one of the best in the division – but has never had the luxury of using.

Injured players, however gifted, are no good to anyone and Ramsden can appreciate the public perception.

He admitted: “If I was a supporter, I’d be thinking ‘what a waste of space he is’. They are probably thinking that we don’t need players like that at the club.

“Fair enough, money’s very tight and I haven’t done a lot for it this season. I can see where they are coming from.

“I don’t look forward to coming to games because you can see people looking and know what they are thinking. I can totally understand that view; you feel like a failure.

“It has been one long nightmare for me but I’m trying everything I can to do something about it. I’ve been working my backside off all hours and every day to get fit again.”

When Ramsden signed a new two-year deal last summer, he pictured himself skippering the side towards promotion glory. The season that has unfolded could not have been further from that dream.

While results went from bad to worse, the right back found himself a prisoner of hip and groin injuries that have tied him to the treatment table.

“When you’ve been out so long, it’s hard to keep yourself going because it’s like groundhog day,” said Ramsden.

“Obviously there have been some very low points this season when I’ve gone home and seriously thought ‘I can’t carry on with this’.

“I signed for this club and I’m desperate to do well. I really want to achieve something here but all these setbacks have prevented me from doing that.

“But I’ve got to stay positive, get my head down and keep working. It’s the only way.

“There’s no point in resting on your laurels and looking to take the easy option. I get through it by training hard in the gym and doing everything that the physio and manager ask from me.

“I just hope that my luck will turn round. There have been players who have come back from a lot worse things than I’ve had.”

A recent scan offered false promise. Ramsden had a cortisone injection in the adductor muscle and was eyeing a possible run-out in the closing weeks.

But a jabbing pain in the thigh on his return to Apperley Bridge left him with an all-too-familiar deflated feeling.

Ramsden said: “The worst thing is that I’ve been able to run like there’s no tomorrow. I’m probably one of the fittest players at the club. It’s the striking of the ball that’s the problem.

“People around the place have been very supportive. They know how much it means to me to be playing.

“The manager and lads see how hard I’m working. Unfortunately the fans only watch the games on a Saturday – but I can assure everyone that I’m desperate to put things right.

“On a personal front, this has been the worst season I’ve had in my life. But from the club’s point of view, it’s been the total opposite of what we wanted to achieve. If we were top of the league now, nobody would be thinking twice about me not being out there but results have not gone great and we’re right down the wrong end of the table.

“It’s just a case of getting through to the end. Then we need a strong collective team for next season that will go out there and do a lot better than this year – and I really want to be part of that.”