Pulis tips McAuley to join over-40s club
TONY PULIS says veteran defender Gareth McAuley could join the elite quartet of outfield players who have appeared in the Premier League after their 40th birthday.
Northern Ireland international McAuley, 37 in December, lines up for West Brom against Middlesbrough today as the top flight’s oldest current outfield player.
But Albion boss Pulis, who says the 6ft 4in giant is ‘a fitness freak’, believes he will eventually put his name alongside Gordon Strachan, Kevin Phillips, Ryan Giggs and Teddy Sheringham in the fabulous 40s club.
He said: ‘I could easily see Gareth playing until he is 40. He is as fit as a flea. He looks after himself really well and has such a hunger to play.’
While other clubs have rested their Euro 2016 players at the start of the season, McAuley will be playing his fourth match today and has already scored two goals from set-pieces.
Despite his admiration for McAuley, however, Pulis is all too aware that he is part of the oldest squad in the Premier League and has warned the club’s new owners that they need fresh recruits.
He’s still trying to complete the loan signing of Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez, and the club have offered record fees for three other players.
Pulis added: ‘It is flat at the moment. We need people who will give it a lift and then the rest of the (players) will join in.’