HIS spirits raised by successful surgery, Garry Thompson is hoping he can do the same for Scunthorpe United's position in the table.

The versatile attacker is set to start training next week after recovering quickly from an operation to correct a groin injury which has blighted his season.

And he hopes that will come just in time to help the Iron with a final push for survival, an achievement which would make up for an otherwise miserable campaign for Thompson.

"Hopefully, I can let them do all the hard work and I'll come in and take all the glory!" he joked. "I just want to play, I can't stress it enough.

"The surgeon was happy with the procedure. He said, when he opened me up, he could tell I had a problem straight away. He's corrected that and the pain I was experiencing in my thigh.

"With hindsight, I wish I had gone straight to the surgeon, but you need to try things to see if they work. For me, they didn't, but hopefully I can get back and there will still be a good 10 or 15 games left to play.

"I think it will probably be too soon for the Portsmouth game, but we'll see about Swansea.

"When I get back into it, I tend to find my fitness quite easily. But with me being out for so long and this being the fourth or fifth time I've tried to come back, it might take a bit longer.

"This year has been a horrible one for me but if I can get out there, play 10 games and have a hand in getting us 30 points, it could be the difference between us staying up and going down."

It will make a welcome change from his unfamiliar role as cheerleader on the sidelines. Thompson started the campaign looking to fill the void left by Paul Hayes and Gary Hooper up front for United.

But, with a clutch of new faces now in the team, he accepts he has a fight on his hands to catch boss Ian Baraclough's attention.

"It's so frustrating sitting there and watching the lads try their hardest to get results," said the 30-year-old, who still faces the prospect of further surgery in the summer. "Not being able to help hurts.

"It's a horrible place to be when you come in early and see all the lads have a laugh and go out training. It's more of a mental thing.

"You've got to bring yourself in every day and make sure you support the lads, while at the same time you're a little bit down. But it's a team game. If I can voice an opinion or spur someone on which helps them in the game, then I can do my part from the sidelines.

"The gaffer talks to you and involves you. He asks what you think about the games you've watched, so he's good like that.

"You don't feel totally out on the fringes and he comes round every morning to see how we are. You've just got to be positive.

"If I can have any affect on the games we have left, then I want to be out there as soon as I can."