Evergreen Stephen Carr keeps rolling along at Birmingham City
“I achieved that. And for me, the hunger only gets greater and greater.
“I’m loving it. When you weren’t getting that chance and someone gives you it, it gives you a kick up the arse. Something to prove, to people who wouldn’t touch you.
“I’m lucky that Alex McLeish decided to touch me. So I’m loving it.
“I just feel as if I can keep playing on and on. Those six months out probably did me a favour.”
In letting him fully recover from a succession of injuries? “I think mentally more than my body. Maybe. Who knows?
“But I feel great now. Then again, as the manager said, you don’t feel tired when you are winning, when you are losing you can be very mentally tired.”
After Carr, 33, was released by Newcastle United at the end of the 2007-08 season, he fully expected to find another club.
There were a few inquiries and offers, but they didn’t appeal. He waited... and waited... and waited.
He felt that clubs believed he was injury-prone, something he disputes.
Indeed, the only Premier League game he has missed this season has been due to suspension.
And he pointed out that full-backs are not always on the list of priorities for managers as they look to beef up their squads. “It’s always the strikers.”
There was not much money swilling around outside the top-flight either.
“A few of the injuries at that time [at Newcastle] were a few strange ones, more collision than muscle. It was only at the end that I did my hamstring.
“They weren’t diagnosed as they should have been and they kept me out longer than I wanted.
“Basically it was a case of people not looking after you properly.
‘‘Unfortunately you’re the one that looks like you’re injury-prone but the rehab was shocking. That’s the bottom line.
“For me, getting to my age now, it’s just maintaining myself, keeping myself fit and I feel really good. Hopefully that will continue for me.”
Blues new full-time doctor, Ian McGuinness, was at Newcastle during Carr’s time and allayed any fears McLeish had about the state of Carr’s body.
‘‘Stevie is the elder statesmen, captain, but playing like a 20-year-old. He’s got the legs of a 20-year-old, he’s looking a superb athlete. I can’t praise him highly enough,” said the manager.
Carr signed a two-year deal in the summer and, considering how things have gone, could probably play beyond that period.
He said: “I never thought I would say that I would want to keep playing until I was 36 or 37 but, if I could, I definitely would after having that break. I’ve realised how enjoyable it is.
