I can play until I’m 40 ―Barry

Gareth Barry will become a record-breaker if he features at the Emirates on Monday night

West Brom’s Gareth Barry says he could play until he is 40, as the midfielder is set to break the Premier League appearance record.

The 36-year-old will make his 633rd Premier League appearance if he features for the Baggiest against Arsenal on Monday night.

Barry will overtake Ryan Giggs in the standings, although the Welshman did make 672 top-flight appearances for United, with a number of them coming before the start of the Premier League era.

The former England midfielder joined West Brom from Everton in the summer, signing a one-year deal and has the option to extend his deal by a further 12 months, and he can see himself potentially playing until his forties.

“It’s definitely a possibility. I was 32 when I signed for Everton and (the manager) Roberto Martinez said, ‘You’re style of game – you can play until you’re 40’,” he said.

Barry says there are not the opportunities for young players that he enjoyed in his youth

“I’m sitting there laughing at him, but he was deadly serious, and I still laughed. It’s still going to be tough, but for a manager to tell me that four to five years ago is a good compliment, which was nice to hear.

“I’m immensely proud to get there. Whether it will stay around for long I don’t know.”

Barry started his career for Aston Villa as a 17-year-old and went on to make 365 appearances for Villa before playing 132 times in the league for Manchester City.

He played 132 matches for Everton and has played four for West Brom. He also won the Premier League with Manchester City back in 2012.

But Barry admits that youngsters now do not have the opportunities to play like he did in the past.

Barry (left) won the league with Manchester City in 2012

He said: “It’s certainly harder for younger players breaking through now like I did. There’s a lot more rotation in terms of selections now. So it may be tough to beat and the longer I can go it will be tougher as well. More so for my kids, I’d be proud for them to see their dad up there.

“You can speak about the money, they will be getting more at a younger age and there are a lot of dangers with that if you’re not being advised properly.

“For a young player it’s important to have people around you other than yourself. You’re immature as an 18 or 19-year-old.

“I would have made big mistakes then as a young player and done things I would have learned from and I’m sure young players will now.

“It’s important to have the right people around them and for players like myself, the older players, to advise them.”