JON WORTHINGTON has done that much running recently he could have romped around the London Marathon.

Town's tough-tackling captain is suspended until after next Saturday's final fixture of the regular season against Swindon at the County Ground.

His ban is the result of being cautioned 15 times this season and his only consolation is that if Town end up in the play-offs, he will be free and available to play again.

He'll be fighting fit, too.

For the 23-year-old has been putting in the hard yards in training to make sure he's as pumped up as possible to challenge for a recall.

"It's no fun being out, especially at this stage of the season when there's so much to play for," said Worthington, who started his ban at the Bescot Stadium last Saturday.

"It wasn't the best watching down at Walsall, even though we won. I was on the bench and close to everything that was happening, but it didn't help.

"There's a big difference from playing and you do feel a lot more nervous when you are watching - rather than being out there on the pitch where you can do something about it.

"At least the lads did well and were well worth the 3-1 win.

"We needed a good performance and result after what happened in the second half against Chesterfield and they certainly came up with it, which was very pleasing all round.

"We have been like that all season, though.

"Every time we've had a slip-up we've bounced back well and that's why we haven't lost successive League games all season.

"It shows the lads react positively to any setback and it shows the manager, coaches and playing staff have got a lot of character."

Andy Booth returned to the starting line-up along with defender Martin McIntosh and manager Peter Jackson switched the system to cope with Worthington's absence.

Mark Hudson played an anchor role in midfield with partner Chris Brandon and the wide men, Danny Schofield and Gary Taylor-Fletcher, given licence to attack in support of Booth and David Graham.

It worked well against a spirited Walsall side who were relegated and, in the aftermath, had manager Kevan Broadhurst sacked and replaced by Mark Kinsella.

"I don't think the fact Walsall went down to 10 men with Chris Westwood sent-off 20 minutes from time had any effect, because the lads were playing well at that stage and looking dangerous," said Worthington.

"The game opened up a bit more, there's no doubt about that, but the lads were fairly comfortable all the way through and I felt, with a bit more luck, we could have had a few more goals."

So what are his thoughts on promotion with Town needing both Brentford and Colchester to slip up for a chance at the automatics?

"All we can do is try and win our games and hope things go our way elsewhere," he said.

"If it goes down to the wire it's anybody's because of the pressure that's going to be involved.

"Obviously we've been there before a couple of years ago and we know what it's like, so maybe it will affect the others more.

"All we can do, though, is concentrate on taking maximum points and giving ourselves the chance to cash in if we can.

"Everyone is upbeat again after the Walsall result and, even though both Yeovil and Swindon are still fighting for survival, we have to realise that what we are fighting for is much more important than that."

Worthington was delighted for Graham to score his second in as many games and for both Booth and substitute Pawel Abbott to get back among the goals.

"David Graham's was a quality strike, a tremendous shot, and that's the sort of thing he's shown he's well capable of," he explained.

"It was particularly good to see Pav get a goal as well.

"All the lads were delighted for him and, hopefully, it will give him a big lift going into these last few games.

"Boothy's goal right at the end prevented any possible edginess after Walsall had pulled a goal back and, to be fair, it was a fantastic header."

Worthington is itching to play again but, clearly, he would trade the chance for automatic promotion.

"All I'm doing at the moment is running a lot!" he sighed.

"I have to keep ticking over as best I can until we know exactly what's going to happen.

"I'm keeping as fit as I can and training hard so that if I'm needed again I can be there at a moment's notice."

And is he frustrated at not being able to kick anyone?

"Ask the lads, I do that every day in training," he joked.