Doncaster Rovers: James Coppinger on new contract talk – ‘Fingers crossed something will get done and I’ll play until I’m 40’

This season – his 16th at Rovers – looked likely to be the last for the 38-year-old until he revealed earlier in the campaign that he was enjoying playing far too much to consider retirement just yet.

But he believes his advancing years mean his contract is always likely to be one of the last finalised, which is something he accepts.

“We’ve had a brief chat about it,” he said.

“When you’re going to turn 39 in January you get sort of put to the back of the queue.

“You’ve got to accept that. Sixteen years at the club – it is what it is.

“I’ve said before that I enjoy my football, enjoy coming in and enjoy being part of a group that wants to do well and wants to work hard.

“If they genuinely weren’t like that then I’ve had retired already.

“To have players like Ben Whiteman, Ben Sheaf and the lads that are coming in on loan and doing really well, that lifts me.

“Fingers crossed, something will get done and I’ll play until I’m 40 – at least.”