Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury skipper Mat Sadler believes Peter Crouch can play into his 40s

Shrewsbury captain Mat Sadler believes veteran striker Peter Crouch could play into his 40s.

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The Town stopper, who turns 34 next month, could face another battle with the 6ft 7in former England striker in tonight’s FA Cup third-round replay at the Bet365 Stadium.

Crouch, who is 38 at the end of the month, netted from the bench late on at Montgomery Waters Meadow to force the replay.

Sadler, who still carries the lump and stitches from where the duo clashed heads at the end of that tie, holds former FA Cup winner Crouch in high regard.

“He’s a big old boy. He looks like he could play for another five, six or seven years,” the defender said.

“He’d probably be the first to say he wasn’t the quickest so it’s something he won’t lose.

“He’s a fantastically gifted footballer, very awkward and difficult to play against, a fantastic touch and knack of finding himself in areas to score goals.

“He’s one hell of a footballer who’s had one hell of a career but at our peril we focus solely about him.

“There’s an array of talent. I think he could play for as long as he likes.”

The skipper continued: “We all want these sorts of challenges.

“We don’t want what happened on Saturday but, personally, I want the challenge of putting it right.

“These are the challenges you play for, to strive to overcome and it makes it all the more satisfying when you do.”