PNE ace Gally too hot to handle

Gallagher opened the scoring at Molineux with a sublime chip in the 17th minute as the Lilywhites cruised to a 2-1 victory over Wolves.

Despite the groin issue, the midfielder has been instrumental in North End’s current run of good form and the ex-Leicester City man is determined to play through the pain.

He said: “This weather isn’t helping my hernia problem with how cold it is.

“But I will warm up, I will have tablets, I will do whatever it takes to get this team as high as we can in the league.

“I will have the operation when we are mathematically safe. I just want to play as many games as I can.

“I’m happy to get out there even if the pain is a bit difficult at times and I will play with a smile on my face.

“The manager says I’m playing better with a hernia but it needs sorting.

“Hopefully it won’t be too long before I go under the knife and get it sorted.”

Gallagher says he injured his groin six months ago, back in August, when he scored against MK Dons.

And despite his desire to play, the bitter weather caused his injury to seize up and he reluctantly left the pitch in the 67th minute at Wolves.

But the midfielder says the club has strength in depth and praised John Welsh for his cameo appearance.

He said: “Going out in the second half, I just felt it seize right up and there is no point in me trying to carry on if you can bring someone on like John Welsh, who gives 100 percent whereas I’m only at 80 percent.

“John came on, did a great job and he put a great tackle in. I think the whole crowd winced when he went for that tackle – it echoed.

“Fortunately we have got a great depth in the squad. With the hernia, it is wear and tear, it is just all the deliveries, all the set-plays.

“I actually did it in the first away game at MK Dons when I scored.

“I tweaked it then and one of their lads did a stepover and both of my legs went.

“I’ve been to see a surgeon. I think if I have it done, I could be back in two to three weeks but we have a lot of important games coming up and hopefully we can get some more points on the board before I book it in.

“I just want to play the game so I grit my teeth and carry on.”

Gallagher was pleased with the victory and says Adam Reach must have been watching the NFL, after the second goalscorer ran to the line to cut off a desperate Wolves defender and ensure Gallagher’s lob rolled over.

He said: “I was the deepest one in midfield but I said to Alan Browne and Daniel Johnson, ‘If you see me get the ball will one of you sit’ and it was a great ball back from Joe Garner. Big Carl Ikembe is a monster coming out and I’ve done well to get it past him.

“I think Reachy has been watching NFL – he did a good block but I was happy to see it going in. I looked at the linesman and the ref because I didn’t know if they might give a foul on Adam blocking.

“They didn’t and it was nothing more than we deserved.

“We were first class, we handled the ball well on a difficult surface. To come to Molineux, quieten the crowd and dominate is difficult and we managed to do it.”