SOUTHEND United midfielder Michael Timlin has been through more pain than most in the pursuit of success for the Shrimpers.

The 30-year-old has broken his leg, suffered serious shoulder and elbow injuries, spent time in prison and had to have 15 stitches following a sickening clash of heads with Bira Dembele in last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Stevenage.

But Timlin, who remains a doubt for tomorrow night’s game, believes the pain will all have been worth it if Blues win promotion at the end of the season.

“It’s been an eventful few years at the football club, on and off the pitch, with everything that’s gone on, but promotion would be a reward for that,” said Timlin.

“I don’t think that’s the case for just me, it would be all the lads, especially Luke Prosser and Barry Corr.

“They’ve been here a while now too and joined the club under Paul Sturrock, knowing what the potential could be here.”

Timlin has not yet given up hope of featuring in tomorrow night’s clash at Roots Hall, but admitted: “We’re in for another real battle against Stevenage. We know it will be hard to beat them.”

But he would love to make it through to Wembley, to make up for his two previous visits to the home of English football, which both ended in great disappointment.

“When we got there with Southend I had broken my leg and couldn’t play in the JPT final with Crewe,” said Timlin.

“I broke my leg in the area final at Leyton Orient and going off the pitch that night, I knew I wouldn’t be playing at Wembley if we got there.

“But a few years before that, I was on the bench for Swindon in the play-off against Millwall, which is the area I’m from.

“Loads of my mates were at the game because they’re Millwall fans and obviously my family were there too, but I didn’t get on.

“I could’ve dealt with that better if we had won the game, but we didn’t, and that was also really hard to deal with.

“But hopefully we can get there for the play-off final and it can be a day to remember to make up for that pain.”