BILLY Knott may not crunch the play-off figures like some of his City team-mates but he believes it’s all adding up to a thrilling finish.

And the midfield playmaker is determined to make sure he is firmly in the equation when the end-of-term maths are done.

Monday’s defeat to Preston knocked a bit of stuffing out of City’s pursuit of the top six. But for Knott, there was the consolation of being back in the thick of it again.

Nobody will be more determined to regain that lost ground by claiming the three points from Gillingham tomorrow.

Knott is revelling in his return to the starting line-up after a frustrating spell on the bench. Since that month as a sub he has bounced back with a renewed vigour to his play.

He said: “I was out for four or five leading up to the Reading game and then afterwards. So it’s good to be back in.

“I didn’t mind missing one or two but not four or five. It gets frustrating and the gaffer knew that.

“But I was patient and the boys were playing well, even though the results weren’t coming and it was draws here and there.

“Sometimes I sit there calmly on the bench and try not to think anything of it. But then we get near goal and I start jumping up and down.

“But the gaffer put me back in and said ‘go and enjoy it again’ and told me to make sure I don’t lose the shirt this time.

“I’m glad to be back playing again and hopefully I can stay there.”

With City six points off Chesterfield in sixth, they realistically need to win at least four of the remaining games to have a chance – a run-in which includes Tuesday’s visit from leaders Bristol City and Yorkshire derbies against Sheffield United and Barnsley.

“I don’t know about the points,” admitted Knott. “Clarkey (Billy Clarke) and some of the older boys talk about it but this is my first season involved in something like this.

“If we can grind wins out and get on a little run again then who knows where we might end up.

“But there’s nobody we should be afraid of. Everyone can beat everybody else, it’s a mad league and we’ve just got to keep ourselves in the mix.”

Four of the final six games are away from Valley Parade and Knott confessed that might be a blessing because of the pitch.

“It’s good to get a break from it. You’ve got to watch the ball until the minute it leaves your foot.

“When we go away from home, we look a very good team who can pass the ball well.”

Knott is good mates from his Sunderland days with Gillingham centre half John Egan, who suffered a horrendous broken leg during his City loan spell.

The injury kept Egan out of action for 16 months but he has bounced back, first with Southend, and since for the Gills, where he has made 47 appearances this season.

Knott said: “He’s a really strong character who has come back from a lot of things, like his dad passing away and then the serious injury.

“He’s one of my best friends and a great person inside. He knows how to stay strong.

“I rate him very highly and I don’t think he will be in League One for long. He just had to leave a club like Sunderland to get back to where he wants to be.”