Gaz no age concern

WEST BROM boss Tony Pulis is counting on his ‘freak’ snuffing out Chelsea’s ‘beast’.

Gareth McAuley turned 37 last Monday.

Today, the evergreen Baggies defender looks to cap another 12 months among the elite with a clean sheet against Antonio Conte’s inform high-fliers. To do that, of course, McAuley and Albion must find a way to tame the Blues’ red-hot attack – including the rampaging Diego Costa, known as ‘the beast’. Despite the fact McAuley is giving away nine years to the prolific Spanish ace, Pulis is confident that the Northern Ireland centre-half (left) can defy that age gap at Stamford Bridge today. He has been as confident ever since he took the West Brom reins back in January 2015. Pulis, whose side have not lost since October 29, said: “Gareth is a freak in lots of ways – but especially when you look at his age. “He didn’t come into football until quite late on so I still think he’s got quite a lot of petrol left in the tank. “He is a wonderful lad who is great to have around the dressing room. “The fact I pick him every week tells you how just how highly I rate him – he Did I ever think I would see him acting as peacemaker though?

“No, no, no! I think it is very good because Diego is showing the right part of him now.

“Before, I think it wasn’t always right. Sometimes Costa showed ‘bad passion’. Now he is showing the right part of his character.

“He has got it right in his head. He now knows it is important to be focused on the game, on the pitch, to do some movements, to be in the best way in every moment of the game, to think a lot and always be involved in the game.

“It’s important. If you have to think about the game and t ry and find the right movement, it is important.

“He is thinking about the game.

“He is scoring goals rather than thinking about his opponent.

“In every game I ask the same t h i n g s o f my players, t o be focused on the game, be focused on playing football. Only this. The other situations don’t matter.

“It is important to be focused on the game. I always ask this of my players before every game.

“Is Costa the best striker in England today?

“Yes, but I always talk up my players.

“If you ask me the best keeper or the best defender, I say my players. My players. I trust in them.” is a top player. He defends properly – whoever he happens to be up against – but he also scores goals at the other end.

“He has been absolutely fantastic for me.”

With McAuley showing no signs of slowing down any day soon, Pulis is optimistic that the ex-Ipswich Town man can be a pillar at the back for Albion for some time yet.

The former Stoke and Crystal Palace boss said: “I don’t know what he wants to do but I think he can play on for a few more months at least! “As I said, he’s a freak. “He carries no weight. In Austria during pre-season, he was pounding up the hills like he was a young lad.

“You’d have to ask Gareth if he wants to continue until he is 40 but you’d hope he will try to go on as long as possible.

“He looks after himself so well. He is a total professional and, having worked outside of football, he appreciates everything about his career in the game. “He leads by example.”

HARRY PRATT