Michael Gray: My age is not a factor for Wolves

Apr 15 2008 By Paul Berry

AT 33 years young, Wolves’ Michael Gray is certainly proving his own adage that “age is only a number”.

A string of vibrant and purposeful displays since being moved from left back to midfield have seen Gray become one of Wolves’ most consistent performers in recent weeks.

And tonight at Molineux, he will line up against a former Sunderland team-mate - prolific Albion striker Kevin Phillips - who has also seemingly discovered the blueprint for everlasting footballing life.

“Pushing me forward into a midfield position probably suits my game a little better,” says Gray. “I’ve always been a hard worker and will always give 100 per cent which I think is there for everyone to see.

“Even if I’m having the worst game I’ve ever had I think people will always see the effort I put into a game. It suits me at the moment and it’s something I’m really enjoying. I keep telling people that age is just a number and I’ll never lose my enthusiasm.

“I think someone will just have to tell me to stop one day and that’s the day I will stop playing football because I enjoy it that much. I enjoy coming into training every day, I love the camaraderie around dressing rooms and being part of and that’s something I don’t want to go away.”

Gray’s six years at Sunderland with Phillips included several spent in the Premier League after achieving promotion in 1998/99.

“Kevin’s still doing it now to this day, scoring goals, which is just testament to the way he looks after himself,” he says. “He’s a great lad as well and good luck to him.”

Having joined Wolves last summer on a one-year deal, Gray is one of a trio of experienced personnel - Gary Breen and Jody Craddock complete the three - out of contract at the end of the season.

But he is far from concerned, preferring instead to concentrate on the matter in hand, namely promotion.

“I signed for the year and nothing else has been mentioned,” he explains. “It looks like everything will be sorted out in the summer and I prefer it that way. You don’t want anything going on in the back of your mind and to be fair when you get to my age you don’t really think about it too much.

“My main aim is to finish off this season as strongly as I possibly can and let’s see what the summer brings. It would be amazing if we got promotion I still have aspirations of playing in the Premiership and no one will take that away from me and there’ll be no one prouder than me at this club if we can do it.”

As to tonight’s showdown Gray already has plenty of derby experience, including scoring for Sunderland at Newcastle.

“But it was the time when there were no away fans there,” added Gray. “I didn’t know where to run, it was a silent celebration!

“I was on the bench for the Wolves game at Albion, I was just coming back from injury. I know it’s going to be a huge game and it’s a fixture I’d love to be involved in.

“It’s two attacking teams, West Brom have scored a hell of a lot of goals this season, and it will be a tasty game because of where both teams are in the league.”