COVENTRY City midfielder Michael Doyle says the recent spell he has to endure on the sidelines through injury has made him take a hard look at his footballing career.

The 27-year-old tough-tackling central player missed the whole of the Sky Blues' pre-season preparations and the start of the 2008/09 Championship season following surgery on an ankle injury he carried towards the end of last season.

The Irishman is now on the road back to recovery and has started making substitute appearances for manager Chris Coleman, most recently in the narrow Carling Cup defeat to Newcastle United.

But he says although he is now on the verge of making a full return to the City side, the time spent absent from the squad has made him re-evaluate how he views his time with the Sky Blues.

"It's strange because when you're fit and you're playing you just take everything for granted from playing on a Saturday to training during the week," he said.

"It's not nice being injured and being unable to play and the time I spent injured made me appreciate the fact that a footballing career is a short one compared to others so I have to appreciate it when I am fit."

"I'm not saying I'm going to play against Preston on Saturday, although it would be nice, but the time I've spent out has made me realise just how much football really means to me and just how much I enjoy playing and training.

"It's given me a different outlook and now I'm going to enjoy everyday I get to train and play and I'm just looking forward to trying to get back into the team."