Midfielder Darel Russell has admitted to playing through the pain barrier for Norwich City and former club Stoke.
The 27-year-old midfielder underwent surgery on a double hernia problem recently and told BBC Radio Norfolk he had been suffering for some time.
"The last two years now I've been playing with pain, this year it's become too much though," said
"It was difficult sprinting, I'm hoping the surgery resolves the problem and give me freedom to sprint and move."
Russell played 89 minutes of the Canaries' 2-1 win at Plymouth just ten days after the operation in Germany, and he was relatively pleased with the results.
"I found the first 45 minutes difficult to get moving and break down the stiffness, but as the game progressed I felt my way into the game and it held up pretty well," said Russell.
"It came as a surprise on the Friday when the gaffer mentioned it, that he'd like me to start, obviously it's nerve wracking being so soon, but that's just a confidence thing."
Russell was signed by Peter Grant in 2007 for his second spell at Norwich following a four-year spell at Stoke City.
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