Carsley plans to play on

Carsley: Playing on

How long I can carry on for, I don't know. But I know it would be wrong to stop now, I'm not ready to pack in.

Lee Carsley
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Lee Carsley has no intention of hanging up his boots and is prepared to fight for a place at Birmingham.

The experienced midfielder has endured an injury-hit campaign, with the 36-year-old having only recently shaken off an ankle knock.

He is back in first-team contention now, though, and is hoping to force his way into Alex McLeish's plans over the coming weeks.

Carsley has also sought to quash speculation suggesting he could head into retirement at the end of the season, when his current contract at St Andrews expires.

"I've not really made any plans as such, but one thing I want to do is keep playing," he told the Birmingham Mail.

"What this injury has done has made me realise how much I enjoy it.

"How long I can carry on for, I don't know. But I know it would be wrong to stop now, I'm not ready to pack in.

"I suppose when it gets to that stage when it's a rigmarole and I'm not happy with it, that's time."

Intentions

Carsley is currently in the process of taking his coaching badges and would like to explore that avenue in the future.

However, for now he is fully focused on matters on the field and insists reports claiming he was set to leave Birmingham in January before being struck down by injury are wide of the mark.

"There has been a bit of speculation flying around but I came here with the intention of getting Birmingham back into the Premier League and then keeping them there. It was a two-year plan.

"I wasn't going to be waiting 18 months just to walk away from that.

"I'd like to think I've still played my part in a way. Certainly last season, and this.

"Although maybe not so much on the pitch, but off it this season.

"I remember how tough it was to get to this stage and I want to enjoy at bit of what we've got now at least.

"Come the summer and it may be a different story, I just don't know yet."