DAVID Meyler, it is safe to assume, has not enjoyed the last fortnight. As well as incurring the considerable wrath of his grandmother, the 23-year-old was reduced to the role of helpless onlooker fidgeting throughout Hull City's vital double-header against Watford and Middlesbrough at the KC Stadium.
A two-game suspension could hardly have been worse timed but hurrying back into the fold for a crucial test at Ipswich Town this afternoon, Meyler returns with an acute appreciation of what is at stake in the final five games of the season.
A three-point lead over third-placed Watford has Meyler standing on the cusp of his finest hour. Nothing will be allowed to stand in his path.
"This is me living out my dreams, playing football every day for a living," he said.
"We're in a great position and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to win promotion to the Premier League.
"It's no good sitting down in a changing room at a quarter to five on a Saturday evening with regrets, you've got to take these opportunities.
"Anyone that knows me will tell you I go out every single week and give everything I've got, and walk off the pitch barely able to breathe.
"A lot of people pay a lot of money to come and watch us. My Dad travels more than anyone I know to come and watch me play 90 minutes and it's those little things that spur you on.
"We've got to make sure we do it for them and for everyone else that travels the country to watch us."
Absence has made the heart grow fonder, but Meyler is in selfless mood as his mind takes a tour through the final three weeks of City's Championship season.
While promotion back to the Premier League would grant him vindication after a £1.5m January move from Sunderland, the Irishman feels duty-bound to give the whole of East Yorkshire a lift.
"I find it really exciting," he added. "You're not only changing the futures of players and coaching staff, you're wanting to give the whole city and region a boost.
"For the owners and for the people of Hull it would be amazing to see Premier League football here in front of sell-out crowds every week.
"That would be exceptional, it's what everyone wants. Not just for ourselves but for everybody.
"I suppose that brings added pressure but that's what it's all about. People dream of this.
"We're living out our dreams at the minute and with five games to go it's within touching distance. Now we just need to get the job finished."
Meyler also has some making up to do with his grandmother.
A yellow card collected in the 1-0 win at Huddersfield a fortnight ago was the predictable cue for the latest in a long line of disapproving text messages. That it was his 10th and triggered a two-game ban only made matters worse.
Meyler explained: "I get a text after every game from my grandmother telling me I've got to stop these yellow cards. She thinks it's awful I get so many.
"She's 79 and makes her feelings clear that's for sure. It's never the manager I'm afraid of, it's my grandmother on the phone!
"It was coming sooner or later but I was gutted I missed the Watford game, such a big game against a promotion rival.
"I'm back now thank God and I can look forward to being back involved."
Meyler's return and the first of five possible steps towards the top flight comes at Portman Road today.
Avoiding defeat would safeguard City's grip on second spot regardless of third-placed Watford's result at Peterborough, ensuring Steve Bruce's men hold down an advantage travelling to Wolves on Tuesday.
The stakes are rising but City and Meyler are unwilling to fold.
"There's a saying my good pal Kelloggs is fond of and that's 'Pressure is for tyres'.
"It's got to be exciting hasn't it? We're sitting second in the Championship and chasing the biggest league in the world.
"We're three points clear in second so there's no point getting agitated or uneasy. We're in a terrific position with five games to go and we have to make sure we're bang at it and playing the football we're capable of. If we do that I've no doubt we'll get promoted."
Watford's trip to Peterborough will be monitored as closely as City's trip to Ipswich amongst those left at home in East Yorkshire. The best case scenario could see the Tigers pull six points clear with four games remaining. The worst possible course of events would see them fall to third.
Anxious glances have been thrown over City shoulders at Gianfranco Zola's men since Watford's 1-0 success at the KC Stadium last week, but Meyler's gaze is on league-leaders Cardiff.
"I'm not thinking about Watford, I'm thinking about Cardiff," he said.
"They're six points ahead of us with five games to go and we still have to play them.
"We're not just talking about promotion here, we're talking about winning the league.
"That's my focus. There's 15 points up grabs and we want them all."
