Daily Mirror

Barry: I did not sign to Bag record

- BY BRENDAN McLOUGHLIN

GARETH BARRY insists becoming a Premier League history maker was NOT his motivation for joining West Brom.

The midfielder, 36, joined from Everton and is just five games away from overhaulin­g Ryan Giggs’ record total of 632 Premier League appearance­s.

He can break that record on September 25 in the game against Arsenal, if he appears in every match until then – starting against Burnley this weekend.

“It’s a huge target and I’ve been edging closer and closer,” he said. “But my decision to come here hasn’t been based on that.

“I’m sure I could have scrambled over the line at Everton.”

Barry, whose move will ensure he is in the Premier League for 20 years after joining Aston Villa in 1998 (above), insists retirement was never on the agenda – as the stats prove he is still up to it. Albion’s performanc­e gurus discovered his in-game stats were among the top five for a midfielder in the division last term. “The way the game has gone now, age means nothing to me,” he added. “I’m 36, but the advances in sports science have changed the way players think and approach their football. They don’t allow you to think in terms of age now. “The stats are clear, there is nowhere to hide any more – and I’d soon be found out if I could not compete at this level.”

 ??  ?? STILL HUNGRY Barry out to shine for West Bromwich
STILL HUNGRY Barry out to shine for West Bromwich
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