KIDDERMINSTER Harriers warhorse Mark Creighton has revealed he has been playing through the pain barrier to protect his proud ever-present record.

The strapping centre-half has been the find of the season with his commanding displays at the heart of defence since signing from Redditch United in the summer.

And Creighton's involvement in every minute of Harriers' 19 league and cup games has been even more inspirational given that he has been carrying a painful injury.

"It's not really treatable," said Creighton. "It feels like a groin strain but it's not, it's my abdomen. My lower abs are slightly torn or just weak."

Harriers fans might have noticed Creighton returning to the pitch during the half-time intervals of matches to go through some light stretches with Ian Foster.

Every since the problem first surfaced two months ago he has been placed under the careful supervision of the Aggborough physio to minimise the damage.

Creighton has trained with the squad most days and took part in an exhausting double session with his team-mates on Tuesday.

But the Harriers medical team are anxious to avoid subjecting the giant defender to too much weight-bearing work so Creighton has spent a lot of time in the swimming pool.

"We're hoping to manage it at the moment by making sure I get enough rest, but not too much that I lose fitness," he said.

"It's a fine balance. At the moment I'm battling through it but we'll see how it goes.

"I've been playing through this for about two months and I'm not the kind of player who will miss a match easily.

"The worst thing in the world for me is sitting watching football matches when I could be out there playing."

Creighton has earned rave reviews for his no-nonsense performances this season and it is possible to count his mistakes on the toes of one foot.

Sadly, one of them came during last Saturday's frustrating 2-2 home draw with Forest Green Rovers - an error he is man enough to admit to.

"Individual mistakes cost us in the last match and I made one myself," conceded Creighton, whose loose pass out of defence gifted Rovers their first goal.

"But I don't think it was just the defence who were to blame because we defend from the front all the way through the team.

"I still won all of my headers and battled away but when you do make mistakes at the back it can cost you."