MATT LOCKWOOD is confident age will be no barrier to him as he aims to help secure SPL survival for Dundee.
The Dark Blues stayed in touch with Ross County and St Mirren with a draw up in Dingwall at the weekend, with the 36-year-old Englishman playing a prominent role.
With the matches coming thick and fast over the festive season, Lockwood has assured the Dens faithful he will last the pace.
He dismissed the notion that being of advanced years in footballing terms will be a factor in the weeks and months to follow.
“It’s a lot of rubbish,” he said. “You hear it all the time in this country.
“When a player is in their mid-30s he is supposedly finished. It makes no sense and it is definitely not the case with me.
“I am feeling as fit as ever and there are a few years more left in me yet.
“I look after myself in training every day and don’t drink at all, which is one of the reasons I have stayed so fit over the years.
“The only guys who say this sort of nonsense are those managers who have been drinkers themselves and haven’t lived their lives properly off the field so don’t know anything else.
“Put it this way, if I go on to become a manager, I will have no hesitation signing players my age because it comes down to how professional you are, not your age.
“I think I have proved this season in the SPL that I am still up to the challenge and nobody can say my legs have gone.”
Lockwood was accentuating the positive following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with County, and Dundee will need to be upbeat as they face yet another trip to the Highlands this weekend to take on high-flying Inverness Caley Thistle.
He said: “Not many teams will go to Dingwall and win this season. It is such a difficult place to visit, but we can take a lot of positives from it into the Inverness game.
“We will have to be just as strong again because in the SPL you have to stand up and be counted away from home, which I’m sure we will do.”
Lockwood has declared himself up for a battle for the jersey when fellow full-back Brian Easton returns to full fitness following injury.
“Competition always keep you on your toes,” added Lockwood.
“Every club needs it and I have been pretty happy with my own form over the past few weeks.
“Brian is a good player, but it is up to me to hold on to the jersey and show I deserve to stay in the team.”
Meanwhile, boss Barry Smith revealed defender Kyle Benedictus should be okay for the match against Terry Butcher’s team.
“Kyle picked up a head knock and needed stitches in order to get the bleeding to stop, but he should be OK for the weekend,” said Smith.
With the dust now having settled on the County clash, the Dundee boss reflected: “It was a good point. A lot of teams struggle up there.”