West Brom doctor tips Gareth McAuley to play past his 40th birthday

The 37-year-old centre-back is the oldest outfield player to feature in the Premier League this season.

Not only has he played every single minute of every Baggies game so far in all competitions, he has also scored six goals on the way. Dr Mark Gillett, Albion's director of performance, says the Northern Irishman hasn't shown any signs of deterioration in the past five years – if anything, he is getting stronger.

"We take some credit but the thing about Gareth is he's an unbelievable professional," said Gillett. "He's first in every morning and does the right things. He looks after himself.

"I've not seen a physical deterioration in him in the time I've been here and I don't anticipate that we will. He could easily play past 40 at this level if he wanted to."

McAuley's contract runs out at the end of the season, when he will sit down with Tony Pulis and the board to discuss his future.

Albion's very own Peter Pan has already said he'd like to continue playing football for as long as possible.

The only outfield players to play past 40 in the Premier League are Gordon Strachan, Ryan Giggs, Teddy Sheringham, and former Baggies striker Kevin Phillips. But Gillett reckons McAuley could be the first of a new wave of players to reach that milestone.

"I think it's positionally dependant but players will get older and older over the next few years," he said. "They're better at looking after themselves and people like us are better at doing what we do."

Albion's medical team pride themselves on their ability to keep ageing members of the squad off the treatment table, but Gillett also heaped praise on the players.

Darren Fletcher has started the last 78 Premier League games in a row for the club after battling back from ulcerative colitis. "He manages himself very well," said Gillett.

"The thing about him is, when the going gets tough, that's when he's at his best."