Former FA Cup finalist Curtis Davies hopes to emulate his old defensive partner Phil Jagielka by playing into his 40s.
Derby stalwart Davies and Jagielka played together at the back in the Championship last term with a combined age of 75. Davies, who turns 38 in March, is still going strong this term with the Rams in League One after relegation amid points deductions and administration.
While Jagielka, 40, has made nearly 20 appearances for Championship Stoke this season after Derby were prevented by EFL rules from giving him a new contract a year ago. Davies reckons the key to their longevity has been keeping their hunger and fitness at a time when other financially secure pros would have long since hung up their boots.
Stopper Davies, out of contract in the summer, reflected: “When Jags came and our combined age was 75 people must have questioned if we could play together. But we had one of the best defensive records in the League together until he unfortunately wasn’t able to renew his contract.
“It was a shame but you have to be encouraged by someone like Jags. He is a great player and a great guy. He’s had a really good career but he still has the hunger to play - I think that is the key. Even if he had a slight niggle he wasn’t moaning and wanting to be in with the physio, he wanted to get outside, get through it and play the game.
“Personally I want to get through this year and then potentially do one more season. And if I got to the end of the season after and felt I wanted to go again, then I would. I am not just going to retire because I am old now, I want to keep playing if i can keep giving a good account of myself.
“Then ultimately something else exciting may crop up whether in coaching or media work that helps make the decision.” Davies and Paul Warne’s Derby side will be back in action on Monday when Premier League West Ham visit.
The hosts are on a 14-game unbeaten run in League One dating back to October with Davies returning to the starting line up for the last two games. The veteran is also enjoying the chance to help mentor the club’s talented youngsters like Eiran Cashin,21, and Max Bird,22.
He added: “I played every single minute of the season last year. This season I’ve had a couple of injuries and the team were flying so it was difficult to get back into the team. I do get frustrated because I want to be on the pitch. But I still like mentoring and helping young players in and around the team whether I am on the pitch or not. It is something instilled in me naturally and I enjoy that as well.”
After seven clubs and 172 Premier League appearances, Davies has plenty of experiences to drawn upon. Including scoring in the 2014 FA Cup final when Hull led Arsenal 2-0 early on before the Gunners roared back to win 3-2 in extra-time.
He reckons his final heartache was similar to West Ham’s who were seconds away from lifting the Cup in 2006 before Steven Gerrard’s last minute equaliser for Liverpool. He rued: “I was at Hull when we nearly won it and West Ham were so close to winning it as a club and upsetting Liverpool until Gerrard pulled out that worldie.”
