Town full-back Chris Makin has revealed that he feared his career might be over due to the hip problem which has forced him to miss most of the season. The injury proved difficult to diagnose until it was identified it as a small tear to the hip joint in mid-March.

Makin says the injury, picked up in the home game against West Ham in August, is the worst he has sustained: "This is the first time in my career that I have been out for so long and it was made worse by the fact that we couldn't find out what the cause was.

"It also couldn't have come at a worse time. I am in the last year of my contract and playing for my future here.

"Everytime I got knocked back in my recovery I started to think my football career was over.

"It has been an absolute nightmare, a very worrying time. I went into the second operation with worries that I might not have a future in the game.

"I was desperate to find out what was wrong and delighted when the surgeon told me what was causing the problem. His words meant more to me than anything."

Makin, who was promoted to the Premiership with today's opponents Sunderland, is unimpressed with this season's Division One: "I think it has been the worst First Division I've seen in a long time. Everyone is capable of beating everyone else and there is no dominant sides like there have been over the last two or three years."

The ex-Oldham and Marseille man will be looking to prove his fitness over the summer and win himself a new contract with the Blues: "I have got a long way to go yet and a summer of running and running.

"I hate running, but at least the target is there now, a return to football. I'm finally moving in the right direction again."

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