Rangers defender Gareth McAuley has insisted he has no retirement plans despite his slow start to life in Scotland.
The 38-year-old has yet to start a match for Steven Gerrard’s side after joining on a free transfer earlier this season, but the former West Bromwich Albion star still feels he has more to give.
“Years ago Sammy Morgan said to me ‘never retire’,” he told the Scottish Sun. “Eventually you will be retired. And that is something that has stuck with me for a long time, what Sammy said.
“Pulling up to the ground there is no better feeling, pulling up at Ibrox last weekend I felt like 18 instead of 38. As long as I feel fit and able to compete and able to train every day to the standard that’s needed, then I will keep going.”
OPINION
This is good to hear from McAuley. Injury and the form of Connor Goldson and Joe Worrall has seen him make a slow start to life north of the border but he remains a solid player who can do a job for Gerrard’s team when required. He is getting on a bit, especially for an outfield player, but if he still feels good and thinks that he can contribute then there’s no reason why he shouldn’t continue playing. Footballers’ careers are short. Generally they retire in their mid thirties and then that’s it. McAuley is wise to avoid that fate for now. He’ll be retired for a long time once he does finally pull the trigger so there’s no need for him to do so prematurely. Obviously he would have liked to have hit the ground running at Ibrox but there’s still a long season ahead in which he can make an impact in Glasgow, so credit to him for carrying on for as long as he possibly can.