Nottingham Forest

Michael Dawson: 'I still have the same hunger and desire from when I was four'

By Matthew Jones, Reporter | 10 June 2018

Nottingham Forest defender Michael Dawson claims that he can play a full part for his boyhood club next season, despite turning 35 in November.

Nottingham Forest veteran Michael Dawson has rubbished suggestions that he could struggle to play every game for his boyhood club next season.

The English defender rejoined Forest from Hull City last month, where he previously won the Tigers' Player of the Year award.

Despite turning 35 this year, Dawson insists that age will not hold him back from impressing for Aitor Karanka's side next season.

When asked if he can play regularly for the team next season, he replied: "Yes, 100%. I look at the games I played last year.

"Now the game has moved on so much, you look after yourself. You've got so many staff who help you with the preparation for games. At 34, I'm loving it like I did when I was four! You still have that hunger and desire to do well. It maybe takes a little bit more time to recover, but my body feels good. I'm looking forward to it. After playing so many games last year, I hope I can do the same this year.

"The game has got faster, but the sport science, the recovery side of it... there's so many more staff that are looking into this and players are playing for longer. It's all about looking after yourself, eating the right things and knowing what's right for your body – and when you get older, you know that."

Dawson had extensive spells at both Tottenham Hotspur and Hull since leaving the City ground in 2005.