Connor Wickham hopes Cardiff City fans have forgiven him for the video which appeared to show him inhaling laughing gas after losing to Swansea City following his goal and assists in the win over Blackpool on Friday.
Wickham's name was in the headlines this past week after the video was circulated on social media in the hours after Cardiff's last-gasp defeat to bitter rivals Swansea last Saturday, with Wickham later celebrating his 30th birthday.
Manager Sabri Lamouchi branded the video of him appearing to inhale nitrous oxide, which you can read more about here, "stupid" before placing him in the starting lineup for the relegation six-pointer against the Seasiders on Saturday. Wickham repaid the manager's faith in the best way possible by scoring the opener before setting up the following two goals as City blew the Tangerines away in a first-half blitz.
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"I felt I owed it to the fans this week, and the players and the staff and the club," Wickham said after the match. "I don't think it was a great performance but we got what we needed from it today. The most important thing is the three points. The boys dug in until the end, we know we can do better.
"I knew I had a point to prove today. The manager has given me a chance to start.
"The first 15-20 minutes, they battered us. We didn't have composure and they were first to every second ball. Then the game just changed and we scored three goals in 10 or 15 minutes and we dominated the first half from then on.
"The second half, coming out with a 3-0 lead, you feel like you've got enough to win the game. But we probably should have done more. But we have three points and we head home with that."
Lamouchi revealed this week that Wickham had apologised to him personally, the players and the staff as well as issuing a public apology on his social media channels.
But the video clearly stirred up anger among City supporters. Because, despite not scoring, Wickham has played well when afforded the opportunity and has proved over the years that he has the requisite quality to thrive at this level. Despite his performances, though, 81 percent of fans who took part in a Twitter survey did not want his contract renewed at the end of the season, which you can read more about here. Wickham knew he had some making up to do.
"After what happened, I felt in myself I had a point to prove and something to give back to the fans," the 30-year-old added. "They were disappointed with what happened in the game, losing the game, so it was important.
"So getting the first goal and assisting two goals, I hope it's been repaid. I spoke to a couple of friends, I've had a beast, I've had a stinker. A goal and two assists, I hope all is forgiven. I will just try and hope to keep this momentum going until the end of the season."
With Callum Robinson potentially out for the rest of the season, Wickham, Sory Kaba, Isaak Davies, Mark Harris and Kion Etete are the striker options now available to Lamouchi.
Lamouchi insists that each of them are different, but just what does Wickham bring that the others don't?
"He is an experienced player," captain Joe Ralls said. "He has had a great career and been at some great clubs and he shows it. When the balls goes up to him, it sticks.
"He brings others into play. He was a threat in the box today. He is a good lad and has added to the dressing room. Hopefully he can just keep doing what he's doing. We have got all different types of attackers now and whenever the manager needs certain types, they'll all be needed."
After getting off the mark for City in the Blackpool sun, Wickham will hope to net his first goal in front of the home fans when his former club Sunderland come to the Welsh capital on Easter Monday.
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