'It's almost made my decision easier' - James Coppinger talks his lack of game time in his final season with Doncaster Rovers

But he says not playing as regularly as he has done throughout his career has been difficult to stomach.

The veteran is poised to return from a calf injury which has kept him out of action since the turn of the year.

But prior to being sidelined he had started only ten matches this season, with 19 appearances overall and an average of 44 minutes per game.

Aside from the campaign where he spent six months on loan at Nottingham Forest, Coppinger has averaged 37 starts per season since his arrival at the club in 2004.

So, in typically forthright fashion, he admits that not being at the forefront of Darren Moore’s thoughts this term has been tough.

“It’s been really tough because I feel in really good physical shape,” he told the Free Press.

“It’s almost made my decision easier.

“If I was coming to the end of my career or my last season and I was playing every game or a lot more minutes and doing really well then it would have been made harder for me to say I was hanging my boots up.

“But not playing many minutes and not being as involved as I would have liked, it’s almost said to me that I couldn’t do this again.

“Next season, regardless of whether the club wanted to offer me a new contract, I just couldn’t do this again.

“I’ve never played football to be a part of something without being a real part of it. Contributing as I have done over the last 17 years, that has kept me going for as long as it has.

“It’s been really disappointing from my perspective but you can only do what you can do and you can only affect what you do every single day.

“I’ve tried to do my best and sometimes that is not good enough.”

Rovers’ record appearance maker confesses he has struggled to find his best form when being used as a substitute, due to the limits on his time on the pitch.

“What I find difficult is when you don’t get a run of games you don’t get an opportunity to get up to speed,” the 40-year-old said.

“You play four, five, six games on the bounce and you’re getting the best out of yourself.

“I think I can play 90 minutes and I can’t remember the last time I played 90 minutes.

“I don’t get past that threshold where I’m in the red zone which means in the next game I would get stronger, and the next one. It’s almost like I’m on the periphery so I don’t get to feel sharp or feel all those things I’ve felt throughout my career.

“It’s part and parcel of getting older, and younger lads coming in. I get that, I’m not blaming anyone for that. It’s just part of the process.”

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In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.