Mark Bower column

I've realised in the last couple of days how lucky I am to be a footballer.

It's obviously very frustrating to be sat around at home after the operation to have some cartilage removed from my knee.

But the speed with which everything was done shows just how fortunate we are. There was no hanging around.

The scan got read on Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday morning I was under the knife and having the work done. So it shouldn't be long before I am able to get back to earning a living again.

I'd like to thank Mr Bollen and everyone at the Yorkshire Clinic who looked after me.

I was sat in his office after the scan and there were signed pictures of Premier League players all over the wall saying thank you. Mr Bollen is the best at what he does.

It's the first time I've had an operation in football but everybody is pleased with the way it went. I've been told it will be about six weeks before I can play again but that was the best-case scenario for me.

Hopefully it won't be long before I can start my rehab and I'll set little targets in my head and see if I can reach them. At least there is still plenty of the season to go.

But it's not been the best way to begin the new year. I was quite glad to see the back of 2007 but then New Year's Day couldn't have started any worse.

It's strange that you can play so many first-team games at 100 per cent and not have a problem and then suffer an injury just in a half-paced warm-up. But as soon as I felt this pain move through my knee at Accrington, I knew it was fairly serious.

I spent the whole game sat in the corner of the changing rooms with half a view of the pitch - but at least I was at the right end to see both goals and it was nice to get a win.

I felt we got our own back a bit after what happened at Valley Parade earlier in the season - and none of their players were doing keepy-uppies with five minutes to go this time.

  • Start or join a debate on this issue in our on-line forum - Click here