Cunningham: I may not last two more seasons at the top
Ireland captain and Birmingham skipper Kenny Cunningham has cast doubts over whether he can stand up to the rigours of two more seasons of Premiership football.
Blues manager Steve Bruce believes 33-year-old Cunningham can continue to perform at the top flight until at least 2007 and wants him to extend his current contract which runs out next summer.
The Republic of Ireland captain, who was signed from Wimbledon in 2002 has been one of the key players in ensuring City have established themselves in the Premier League.
But Cunningham is more cautious about how long he can continue and will assess how he feels physically before making any decision.
He said: “That (a new contract) is news to me. I haven’t spoken to the manager. I haven’t really given it any thought.
“I’ve just over a year left of my current contract and I’ll see that out. I’ve enjoyed my time at this club but I’m not going to look too far ahead.
“You don’t look that far ahead when you are 33. You just look to the next game and that’s all I will be doing.”
As for Bruce’s belief his captain can play on for at least two more years, Cunningham admitted: “I’m not sure. It is an easy thing to say but when get to that age 33, 34, it is difficult to envisage two years down the road.
“In terms of your physical condition, it can change very quickly. That two years from 33 to 35-36 is significantly different from 25 to 28 in terms of your physical condition. It can deteriorate very quickly.
“It’s sensible not too look to far ahead and it’s something that doesn’t really trouble me to be honest.”
In the short term Cunningham wants to help Birmingham end a campaign of inconsistency on a positive note.
He said: “I’ve enjoyed this season. It’s had its disappointments but hopefully we can finish the season strongly, hit the ground running next season and try and take the club forward and have some measure of success.”
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