Barry set to break PL appearance record

Barry, who is 36, says he has no plans to retire after breaking one of the Premier League’s major longevity records and he wants to carry on playing “as long as possible”.

The former England midfielder joined West Brom on a one-year deal from Everton last summer but his contract includes an option to extend his stay at the Hawthorns if he plays a certain number of matches.

“I never thought I’d get to this number of games. Not at all,” Barry said.

“I never set targets and that’s probably helped me. I take a season at a time, stay focused and enjoy it. I don’t have any idea when I’ll stop. I am happy I’m asked the question while I am still feeling good.

“I just want to go as long as possible. Any ex-player will tell you to keep playing as long as possible, and my family say the same. There will be plenty of time afterwards to try and do different things

“I am happy to be at West Brom under Tony (Pulis) and to keep going. There is no better feeling running out with your team-mates. When the final whistle goes and you’ve won as a team after working all week, it is a great feeling.”

West Brom travel to the Emirates Stadium on Monday night to face Arsenal and coincidentally, it was the Gunners who Barry made his debut against back in 1998, when his Aston Villa team won 1-0.

Barry said: “When I think back to my debut, playing that first game, to hitting this number I am about to reach now, everything has gone so quick in between.

“It is certainly something, when I do end up finishing, I will sit back and be really proud of, and try to take in what has happened in between a bit more.”

However, when asked if he would be celebrating the landmark on Monday night, Barry said: “My family will be at the game but there won’t be a smile on my face after anything other than a positive result!

“As crazy as it sounds after all these years, my focus will be on winning the game.”