Albion manager Tony Mowbray has backed evergreen striker Kevin Phillips to play on for another year – and hinted he could end his career at The Hawthorns.

Phillips will be 35 by the start of next season and his Baggies contract is due to expire in the summer. But the former England man, who is just three goals short of 200 in league football, is in red hot form with 14 already this season and 21 in his last 20 Baggies appearances.

And Mowbray is confident that the ex-Sunderland hero can extend his illustrious career for at least another season.

“There is no question at all that he can continue next year,” said Mowbray.

“The positive for Kevin is that he is naturally a very fit guy.

“He has great enthusiasm and he has a target every game because like all great goalscorers he lives for scoring goals.

“He will set himself targets and while he is scoring at the ratio he has at the moment why wouldn’t he continue and keep enjoying his football.”

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Albion manager Tony Mowbray has backed evergreen striker Kevin Phillips to play on for another year – and hinted he could end his career at The Hawthorns.

Phillips will be 35 by the start of next season and his Baggies contract is due to expire in the summer. But the former England man, who is just three goals short of 200 in league football, is in red hot form with 14 already this season and 21 in his last 20 Baggies appearances.

And Mowbray is confident that the ex-Sunderland hero can extend his illustrious career for at least another season.

“There is no question at all that he can continue next year,” said Mowbray.

“The positive for Kevin is that he is naturally a very fit guy.

“He has great enthusiasm and he has a target every game because like all great goalscorers he lives for scoring goals.

“He will set himself targets and while he is scoring at the ratio he has at the moment why wouldn’t he continue and keep enjoying his football.”

Phillips will become a free agent when his current Baggies deal runs out, alerting other clubs to the potential availability of a proven scorer looking for one last hoorah.

But Mowbray insists there is no dispute between player and club and he believes Phillips is likely to still be an Albion player next season.

Meanwhile the transfer speculation around the Hawthorns continued today as the transfer window opened with fresh reports surrounding Zoltan Gera’s future.

Middlesbrough are rep-orted to be preparing a £500,000 bid for the Hungarian captain, whose contract also expires in the summer.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate is said to be willing to pay up now to avoid taking his chances when Gera becomes a free agent.

But all the signals from Hawthorns officials suggest the Baggies will not sell unless Gera asks to leave and the winger seems more inclined to wait to assess all his options in the summer.