NICKY Butt has revealed this could be his final season as a player as he looks to help Newcastle United make a rapid return to the Premier League.
Butt is no longer a first-choice midfielder at United.
However, the former England international has been a pivotal figure behind the scenes where his vast experience has helped the Magpies mount their promotion push.
And, despite playing his part over the first half of the campaign, the former Manchester United star fears this could be his last hurrah as a player as he admitted that he cannot be certain his body will be able to cope with yet another gruelling campaign.
But the 34-year-old, who has six months left on his Newcastle contract, will not make a firm decision about his future until June as he is determined to enjoy whatever time he has left as a player.
“I know I haven’t got much longer left so I just want to enjoy playing the game while I can before worrying about what to do once I’ve stopped,” said Butt, who is not the sort of person who will carry on playing just for the sake of it. “I haven’t made any decisions about my future yet. I’m just going to take it as it comes. I’m signed until the summer and I’ll see how I feel then.
“If I’m offered another deal here I’ll certainly think about it, but it will depend how I feel. If I feel great, I’ll carry on, if I don’t, that’ll be that.
“I don’t know if the legs have got another season in them yet, but I’m feeling okay at the moment. I did start my coaching badges a couple of years ago, but it’s been put on hold for now.”
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