Lucas Akins got his first league goal of the season to secure Burton Albion a valuable 2-1 victory over Fulham on Saturday - but he was close to not even starting the game.
Akins has started all 10 of the Brewers' matches in league and cup so far this season, and has played every minute of nine of those outings in a variety of positions.
Given the work he has put in in that time - a period during which he has arguably been Burton's outstanding player - Nigel Clough said he considered resting the former Stevenage man for the visit of the Cottagers.
But the Albion boss had a late change of heart to include Akins as part of his side's central midfield three - and he saw the player drive home the decisive penalty following Steven Warnock's first-half opener.
"It just crept in, I think - not really well!" said Clough of Akins' penalty, which Fulham goalkeeper David Button might have hoped to deal better with.
"But he's done another job for us today.
"He wasn't actually playing on Friday, we were going to give him a breather because he has played every minute.
"I said to him after training, 'we might just give you a rest tomorrow'.
"But we changed our minds on Saturday morning and put him out there - and we're pleased we did."
Akins' supreme fitness allows him to play 90 minutes three times as a week, as he has already done on several occasions this season.
But Clough believes that recent game time has helped some of his other key performers move closer to full fitness.
"He (Akins) is our fittest player, he was the one leading in pre-season," added Clough.
"I think you saw another step up in the others, getting up to speed against Fulham.
"I thought Sean Scannell looked the sharpest he has done, Jamie Allen looked at home again and did really well, John Brayford, Jake Buxton.
Burton Albion 2-1 Fulham
"We are seeing them, now they've played a few games, getting better and better."
