The feeling of scoring a last-minute winner at home for a professional footballer is surely as good as it gets.

When Callum O’Dowda came on against Ipswich with a quarter of an hour of normal time remaining he would have been dreamt of helping his side to find a winner.

When Kieffer Moore scored for Ipswich five minutes later, it seemed that dream had ended.

But in the death throws of the game, O’Dowda played his part in Ryan Wintle’s equaliser before grabbing the winner in the 100^th minute.

“That was special, the best moment I’ve had in a Cardiff City shirt,” said O’Dowda.

“I can’t remember the last time I had that feeling, it was probably years ago when I was at Oxford, the feeling is incredible especially going to that end and doing that with the lads is an even better feeling.

“The whole build-up and journey I’ve had, having a little set back in the last few weeks I couldn’t write it if I was going to plan out how it would be, bar next week [against Swansea] might’ve been a bit better!

“Is it the best moment of my career? It’s definitely up there.”

The release of running to the Canton Stand was increased by spending sixth months of the season on the sidelines with a groin injury with O’Dowda returning in a win against his former side Bristol City at the start of this month.

“In preseason I felt a bit of discomfort, but didn’t think too much of it,” said O’Dowda.

“I’m the type of character to get on with it but I should’ve just disclosed it to the medical team and put my foot down.

“The first four games I was playing with a bit of pain and then after the fourth it was too much, had a scan and then had an operation.”

Having “loved” the experience of playing regularly last season, making 40 appearances for Cardiff, O’Dowda found it difficult to spend so long on the sidelines.

“Mentally it was hard, it’s really testing watching the lads and itching to get back out there,” said O’Dowda.

“It does get you down, there’s more to me than football I’d like to think but it’s a massive part of my life, my bread and butter, when you’re not doing it, you feel a bit of an imposter, sat in the gym it’s hard.

“I haven’t been out that long or to that extreme before, but the belief was always there. I had a really good surgeon who filled me with a lot of confidence and the medical team here put the belief in me.”

Like most, O’Dowda turned to friends and family, but he also had the support of his cocker spaniels, Poppy and Murphy.

O’Dowda added: “I’ve got two lovely dogs who I love dearly, they’re my priority in life as well, looking after them, I sound like a dad now don’t I!”

“My family, my friends, they were there for me every step of the way but I live here on my own which makes it difficult through tough days and bad, especially early on when I was accepting how long I was going to be out for and not being able to contribute.”

Additionally, O’Dowda could turn to his life coach Jamie Edwards, someone who has been with him since the fledgling days of his professional career.

“He’s really good, available 24 hours a day and he helped massively,” said O’Dowda.

“I’ve worked with him from early on in my career, good times and bad, on and off the pitch.

“It’s a constant, he’s spent many nights in Cardiff, he’ll come and visit me, I’ll go and visit him, we have access to people here, but he’s been on this journey with me for many years and knows everything about me.

“He’s helped me massively, it’s important to look after yourself physically and mentally.”

O’Dowda’s return has coincided with a Cardiff’s recent upturn in form, unbeaten in their last five and making a late surge for the play-offs.

“I’m just glad to be able to contribute to this team and it’s looking quite positive,” said O’Dowda.

“We’re on a good wave on the moment and we need that to continue, we’ve got a really good squad and there is a belief from everyone in the dressing room and the fans as well.