Steve Schumacher's career at Valley Parade has reached a cross-roads.

That might sound a bit strange for a player who has only had two seasons under his belt.

But the City midfielder admits that he has to get his act together after a year that was simply not good enough.

"It was very hard," he said. "There was a lot of pressure and I couldn't handle it. Everyone was looking at me to come in and do as well as I did the first year.

"People expected me to set the world on fire again, me included.

"The gaffer wanted me to push on and improve as a player and it didn't really happen.

"I had an injury early on and, if I'm honest, I never really recovered from it. I didn't get myself fit enough so I couldn't get box to box as I wanted.

"I wasn't getting enough of the ball and it was all mainly down to fitness and a lack of sharpness.

"I never got the momentum going, which was so frustrating, and I lost my confidence and belief.

"I know it was only my second season but it was the hardest I've ever had and I found everything really difficult."

The bubbling frustration eased after a chat with Colin Todd - who laughed at him.

Like all the players, Schumacher signed off the campaign with a meeting in the manager's office. Having not started a game since mid-March, it could have turned explosive.

But any tension was defused by Todd's jovial reaction as the player sat down.

Schumacher said: "I think he was expecting me to snap at him because I'd not been playing. But as soon as I went in the office, the gaffer just started laughing and told me to forget about everything that had gone on.

"He wanted me to have a good rest and come back sharp and said I'd be a big part of it again.

"That made me feel a lot better and hopefully I can do that because I don't want to go through another season like the last one.

"I appreciate that people do want me to do well and are looking for me to perform as I have done.

"But being my second season, all the other teams know you a bit more so they get a little bit tighter and don't give you so much time.

"It didn't help that the midfield wasn't settled at all. I don't think we played two or three games in a row with the same four.

"When I did get back in, I was trying too hard to impress people and attempting things that I wouldn't normally do.

"Even the simple things became a little bit more difficult because I was trying to force them.

"It was frustrating off the pitch as well. I had a few family setbacks as well as moving into my house and everything just knocked me out of my stride - it was just horrible."

By looking in the mirror, Schumacher believes he has returned a much stronger character.

He is determined to rekindle the exciting form which made him such a prospect when he arrived on the Valley Parade scene two years ago.

The club were thrilled to pin him down on a new contract at the start of last season. Now Schumacher, after the indifferent campaign that followed, knows he has to deliver.

This time he is happy to put himself under pressure, backing himself to emerge as the energetic central midfielder that can drive the team forward.

"I've sat down with my family and we've discussed it and I'm confident I can get back to how it was before last season. Everyone has seen what ability I've got so I know I can get back to that level.

"This is a clean slate for me and I don't doubt I can show my best form again.

"Pre-season has been quite demanding but I can feel the difference already. I tried to come back in good shape which I didn't really do last year and I'm feeling good in myself.

"It's just a case now of needing games to start getting the sharpness to build up to the Nottingham Forest game. Once you've got a few 90 minutes under the belt then you're really ready to go."

His progress may have stalled for a season but Schumacher will be going full throttle from now on.