Nigerian striker, Osaze Odemwingie, is keeping his fingers crossed for a possible start against Liverpool on Sunday.
It would be only his third start this season and his first since a Capital One Cup win over Portsmouth back on August 27.
Through no fault of his own, he’s played more for Nigeria in the last 12 months than Stoke City because of that wretched cruciate knee ligament injury.
He feels the tide is now turning in his fortunes, however, and just wishes the domestic season wasn’t about to end.
But he rightly takes pride from the efforts of others in his prolonged absence – and would love to play his part in a planting another little landmark on the 2014/15 campaign.
“We have 51 points, which if fantastic, but with one game to go we now have a chance to beat it,” Odemwingie said.
“You always want to win, especially the last game of the season, to say goodbye to the fans for the summer. It’s a special day when no team wants to lose.”
“And it is also Steven Gerrard’s last game,” Odemwingie acknowledged, “and he will like to score to make their fans happy and I’m sure they are desperate for points as well.
“For us, we want more points, even though we are guaranteed a top-10 place in the Premier League again.”
But while Odemwingie and Co will be quite happy to spoil Gerrard’s big day, it doesn’t stop them admiring one of English football’s greatest-ever talents.
“He’s fantastic, fantastic,” Odemwingie exclaimed. “Consistency is what proves a player is a top, top player and he has had that over many years.
“Also, he has been an international over so many years, which says it all. One of the world’s best players, for sure.”