RICKY Shakes is ready for anything the relegation run-in throws at him after running the full gauntlet of football’s emotions during the last week.
He is convinced such ‘variety’ can only make him stronger as Town prepare to shape their League One fate.
The 21-year-old’s scruffy winner at Scunthorpe United was his second goal in the space of a week, having netted the opener at Swansea six days previously.
He is confident of adding to that in the last three games.
However, it hasn’t all been a bed of roses.
His goal at Swansea wasn’t enough to prevent a 2-1 defeat, he was omitted from Trinidad and Tobago’s World Cup squad barely 48 hours later and then missed a crucial chance in the defeat by MK Dons.
A lot for anyone to take in but Shakes is, well, unshaken by such contrasting fortunes.
He said: “I suppose it has been a bit strange in a way.
“There have been good moments and disappointments but I prefer to focus on the positive things.
“Saturday wasn’t the best night after the MK Dons match, especially with the chance I had coming at the Town End. I picked my spot but couldn’t finish.
“There are going to be highs and lows in football.
“Some young lads deal with it, some take it badly. I don’t want to let the disappointments get the better of me.
“You want to be strong and to fight all the way.
“We showed fight at Scunthorpe and that’s what we have to keep showing in all our matches.
“Having got a couple of goals in the last few matches then I want to get some more and if I can do that then that’s obviously going to help our chances.
“But it’s about all the lads and it doesn’t really matter who scores the goals as long we get the points and the wins we need to stay in this division.”