VINTAGE TROY IS GLAD ALL ROVER!

AT 35, and with a promising media career already mapped out for him, no-one would have blamed Troy Deeney for wanting to hang up his boots and permanently flick the switch on his radio mic when leaving hometown club Birmingham City in the summer.

- Jon Couch

Dubbed ‘Captain, Leader, Legend’ after 11 years at Watford, the talismanic frontman has enjoyed a barnstorming playing career consisting of more than 600 senior appearances and over 180 goals.

Not content with calling it a day just yet, Deeney agreed to take on a player/coach role at League Two Forest Green Rovers in August – and has already earned a new army of fans at The New Lawn.

But the question remained: could the man who’s done pretty much everything there is possible in the game raise his motivation levels for the visit of NonLeague Scarborough Athletic on a cold, Tuesday Gloucestershire night?

It was never in doubt.

“Well, I’ve got to keep these young boys on their toes, haven’t I?” the forward joked with The FLP.

“I’m really enjoying it here, I’m loving my football. There’s not long left is there so you have to enjoy every moment you can.

“The time will come one day when you wish you could play just one more game, so that’s the mentality I have.

“Bearing in mind I had no pre-season, I’ve been relatively fit since I’ve been here, and I feel like I’m getting fitter by the game and enjoying it more every week.”