FORGIVE me if I'm wrong but isn't the sight of a 'Black Cat' supposed to be a good luck charm?

Unfortunately for me, however, the visit of the Black Cats last Saturday proved anything but lucky as my injury jinx struck again.

I'm frantically trying to wrack my brains to remember if I've walked under a ladder or smashed a mirror recently because it feels as though I've had some dreadful luck with injuries this season.

Over the last couple of weeks I've done everything I possibly can to get my fitness back, including extra sessions at the Academy during the afternoons, and I felt as though it had paid off in the first half against Sunderland.

But then suddenly I went to cross a ball towards the end of the second half and I felt my hamstring go, which was absolutely gutting because it now leaves me right back at square one.

Getting injured is frustrating at the best of times but I'm really starting to get sick and fed up of spending so much time in the treatment room.

Before this season, I didn't really suffer much from injuries but the last few months have felt like a recurring nightmare.

When I had a scan earlier this week it showed up a tear in my hamstring so it could be several weeks before I'm fit to return again but I don't like pinning myself to specific comeback dates because that can often lead to disappointment.

All I can do is work as hard as I possibly can and leave the rest to the medical staff but it is often tempting to try to come back too soon.

At least we managed to sneak a result against Sunderland which keeps our FA Cup hopes alive but last night's result at West Ham was a major disappointment.

I suppose they had to win at home eventually but I'm just sorry it had to be against us.

I know it's easy to be wise after the event but I can't help but think West Ham are in a false position anyway.

Given some of the talent they've got down there in the form of Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Freddie Kanoute and Lee Bowyer, they shouldn't be where they are.

And now that Paolo Di Canio is back, it wouldn't surprise me if he went on to become their saviour.

He started the fightback last night by winning and scoring the penalty but the real hero as far as the Hammers fans were concerned was Jermain Defoe - a player I know well from England Under 21 days.

I've always rated Jermain as a goalscorer and surely it's only a matter of time before he gets promoted to the full England squad.

He's certainly had the Indian sign over us this season and I'm sure the lads will be glad to see the back of him.

In the meantime, we've now got to pick ourselves up for another difficult game against Aston Villa on Sunday.

They'll be smarting from our 4-1 win there in the FA Cup earlier this month and their confidence should be sky high after hammering Middlesbrough this week.