Fully primed Andy Cannon desperate to be unleashed in Portsmouth promotion bid

The energetic midfielder has endured a stop-start campaign, most recently sidelined by a glute problem, affecting the top of his hamstring.

Following successive starts upon his return, he has dropped back to the bench for the Blues’ two most recent fixtures in the form of defeats to Arsenal and Peterborough.

Kenny Jackett has previously spoken of the necessity to nurture Cannon back into the first-team, avoiding potential burnout.

Fellow midfielder Ben Close is out of tonight’s visit of promotion rivals Fleetwood (7.45pm) creating a vacancy.

And a determined Cannon insists he is ready for a first-team return – if selected by his manager.

He said: ‘I want to play every game, if you don’t want to play every game then you’re in the wrong sport.

‘I am fit and ready and hopefully can help us make a big push from now until the end of the season.

‘I had the injury and it’s just being careful with it and making sure nothing reoccurs, but it’s fine. With everything I am doing and still strengthening, it’s fine.

‘I am 100 per cent fit, no question about it, so if I don’t perform that is nothing to do with any injury.

‘I am fine now, it’s just down to me to prove that I need to get back into the team and can do my job there.

‘The manager has been really good with me, he has been speaking to me about it. That is why when I was going to come back for Fleetwood away I told him that I didn't think I was quite right – and he listened.

‘He has just been a bit wary of the situation and been very good about it.’

Frustratingly, Cannon has started just 12 League One matches this season.

But he believes the team comes first in pursuit of promotion.

The 23-year-old added: ‘If the manager thinks he can go around a match in a different way and hopefully get the three points, I am okay with that.

‘I want to play every game I am possibly fit for, but if it isn't right for the team or the way we go about the game, I will miss a match or two.’