CHARLIE Wyke will bend over backwards to lead City’s promotion bid – by taking up yoga.

The striker will start a programme this week to build up his conditioning and suppleness after complaining of cramping up in games.

Wyke scored his fourth goal of the season in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Doncaster after being restored to the starting line-up following last week’s Fleetwood defeat. But he admits he needs to look after his body better.

Wyke said: “The gaffer gets a bit frustrated when I say that I’m all right sometimes when I’m not.

“I did it in pre-season as well and still trained which made (the calf injury) even worse.

“I just want to train and play games but it’s about looking after myself now. I’m 24 and need to start doing things properly.

“I’ve been getting cramp in my groin and calf but I’m seeing a nutritionist on Wednesday and I’ve got some new exercises. I’m starting yoga as well, anything that can help.”

With no midweek game for the next fortnight, Stuart McCall is allowing Wyke to spend extra sessions working individually with the club’s fitness coach Chris Short.

“We’ve got a plan for the next two Tuesdays to do a lot of speed endurance work,” added the target man. “I’ll do that and then be back training with the team on Thursday.

“I can run one pace all day but the short, sharp stuff like backing into defenders takes a lot out of your legs. I’ll be doing a lot of work like that.

“I’ll try and enjoy it but hopefully I’ll see the rewards for it. It’s not nice doing running but I have to do it if I want to get up to speed.

“Last Tuesday I was so stiff from playing the games. You just get like that and obviously I’m a big lad as well so it does take its toll.”

Wyke nodded the opening goal on Saturday as City bounced back from their previous loss to make it five wins in seven in September.

He found himself a marked man with the Doncaster defenders and came in for some physical treatment.

“It’s a bit of a compliment I suppose but I’m not enjoying it at the minute,” he said. “A bit more protection from the referee would have been nice.

“But I’m not really bothered because we got the three points and I got another goal so it was a good day.

“It was that good a ball in from Adam Chicksen. It was right on the money and all I had to do was head it in.

“Fleetwood was a frustrating game but I thought we actually played better than we did on Saturday. But that just shows what football’s like and we ground out the result.

“It’s been a good month for us. Five wins is great form and hopefully we can continue that.

“We’ve played well in some games and then not so good and still ground out results. That shows we’ve got a good team and character.”