Silky striker David McGoldrick is ready to make up for lost time and fire Ipswich Town up the Championship table.

The 28-year-old has endured an injury-ravaged two years, starting just 14 games out of the last 86, and admits there have been some ‘massive down days’ along the way.

Town’s talisman of 2013/14 has turned his pent-up frustration into positive energy though and is coiled like a spring after scoring a fine last-gasp equaliser in the last Saturday’s 2-2 home draw with Rotherham.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Championship game at Sheffield Wednesday, he said: “I’ve got every confidence in myself. If I get a run of games I will score goals again, I’ve no doubt about that.

“Including the end of last season that’s now four starts and four goals in a row. I’m not doubting my ability. I know I’ll keep scoring more goals.

“I’m a confident lad. I’m not being cocky or anything, but I’m a believer in my own ability. Every time I get injured, all I think about is coming back so I can show myself – not anyone else – how good a player I am.”

McGoldrick insists his string of injuries – which includes both knees, thigh, groin, hamstring and ankle problems – have been entirely unrelated. He insists jibes about him being a ‘sick note’ are unfair.

Having tried every treatment going – from yoga, to gymnastics to Hyperbaric oxygen therapy – he says he now crosses the white line not even thinking about breaking down again.

The Nottingham lad speaks maturely about maintaining perspective about his woes and, fresh from a recall to the Republic of Ireland squad, he is relishing the chance to remind everyone just why Leicester City offered £8m for his signature little more than two years ago.

His latest injury set-back came when he landed awkwardly on his ankle in the League Cup defeat to Stevenage on August 9.

“That was shattering,” he said. “But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I could be in worse positions in life. I’m playing for a great football club and doing what every young boy wants to do. You just have to take the rough with the smooth.”

Does he now have faith in his body when he steps on the pitch?

“I don’t think you can go in half-hearted,” he said. “When I cross that line and the whistle blows I forget about the injuries. I went for a header straight away at Newcastle, landed on my ankle and had no reaction. That was a big boost.”

Has he learnt his lesson not to play through the pain?

“If I tell you the truth, the first time when I injured my knee against Blackpool I stayed on until the end of the game, the time I injured my thigh against Rotherham I stayed on for an extra 60 minutes, then I played on against Stevenage so I don’t know if I have learnt my lesson!

“That’s just my nature. I never want to come off. I don’t know what the fans think, but I don’t want to get injured. I know people might make fun and say I’m a sick note, or whatever they say, but I don’t want to be injured. I play through pain because I always want to play.”

He added: “I’ve had massive down days. When you can’t do what you’re paid to do it’s so hard.

“When the boys aren’t doing well you want to be out there helping them, when they are doing well you want to be out there celebrating with them. It’s hard, but you’ve got to deal with it and be strong mentally.”

He added: “I like dropping deep and helping the boys in midfield out by playing forwards. I know sometimes I have to stretch the opposition and go in behind, but I feel I can get goals from dropping and linking play as well.

“I was stiff when I came in last Sunday and Monday. I had to manage what I did in terms of training, but I’m fine now and ready to go again.”