Source: SKY_Sports
Delap hopes for more
Stoke midfielder Rory Delap hopes he can continue to play at the highest level for as long as possible as he prepares to make his 399th career league appearance.
The 33-year-old is set to earn another run-out when Manchester United arrive at the Britannia Stadium for Saturday's Premier League fixture.
Delap is revelling in life in the top flight with the Potters, but he is also aware of the changes that have taken place in English football throughout his playing days.
The former Carlisle, Derby, Southampton and Sunderland man believes the impact of foreign players has had an influence and he confesses that it is difficult to keep up.
Delap, though, is optimistic he will still be able to compete, saying: "When I came into the league a team might have had a couple of foreign players that's all.
"Then more came and because of the influx it is now the best league in the world. They brought a lot more professionalism to the game.
"If you look at players now the technique is still there but they are bigger, faster and stronger.
"When we played Chelsea a couple of weeks ago, every player could have been an Olympic sprinter.
"It is going to be harder for all players to keep up but hopefully I will see it out."
