Footballers have always enjoyed a privileged lifestyle. Who would not jump at the chance to play the game they love - and get well rewarded for it?

But it is easy for those good enough to do it week in, week out to get a bit blase with their surroundings.

Often it takes an unexpected and unwanted spell stuck on the sidelines as a reminder of how fortunate they are.

That is certainly the case with Ben Muirhead, City's forgotten winger, who is slowly building up momentum after an horrendous six months out of action.

Muirhead has now recovered from the hernia saga which consigned him to the Valley Parade treatment room. But the many boring hours spent recuperating and undergoing rehabilitation just underlined his desire to get back to what he does best.

He admitted: "You miss everything about football when you're not part of it. It wasn't just not being able to play games which hurt, but missing out on every-day things.

"You miss going out training with the lads, you miss the banter in the changing room, you miss kicking a ball around when you're stuck inside doing the rehab.

"It's been hard for me in the last six months but, when you're out like that, you do realise how lucky you are to be in the situation that footballers are in.

"It's great to be able to do something you love every day and when it's taken away like that, then it becomes very difficult.

"But I believe I've become stronger as a person. You go through ups and downs as a footballer, the same as in any walk of life.

"You have periods of good form, bad form, you feel great and then you pick up injuries. You have to deal with the highs as well as the lows and I believe I'm strong enough to do that.

"Hopefully I'm through the worst of it now and I can look forward to playing again and producing a good consistency of performance."

Muirhead has not started a senior game since Easter Monday at Gillingham but he made a surprise cameo appearance from the bench in the FA Cup thumping of Crewe ten days ago - and set up a goal from his first run with the ball.

It was a welcome relief for the 23-year-old winger, who had not even got a reserves outing under his belt before being thrown on by boss Colin Todd.

"I felt fantastic to be involved again but it did come as a bit of a shock; I didn't expect it at all," said Muirhead.

"I'd only had a week's full training before, although I'd done three weeks of hard running when I was getting fit again, but you don't have that match sharpness which obviously only comes with playing.

"But it was good to have the ball at my feet again for 20 minutes. It was not a real pressure situation because we were 3-0 up at the time, so I just went out to enjoy it - and to create the goal with a cross straight after coming on was a dream."

Muirhead was straight back to reality with a bump as the reserves crashed 5-0 to Sheffield Wednesday - and he missed a penalty.

Tommy Black's arrival also meant there was no place in the squad at Oldham but Muirhead remains optimistic about his chances.

"There is a lot of competition but it's down to me to show the gaffer what I can do," he said.

"I've got all the confidence in the world about my own ability and it's my job to show that, whether it's in training, for the reserves or coming off the bench."