MITCHELL Thomas may turn 38 later this year but having been shown the door by Burnley boss Stan Ternent he is convinced he still has plenty of football left in him.

"I feel very fresh at the moment because I did not play much football last season," he explained. "I am sure I can do a good job for someone and I don't mind where I play, be it north or south.

"I certainly feel fit enough and in a funny way, not playing this season should help me to keep going. Normally in the summer you need a rest from a long hard season but I am still raring to go.

"I played the last eight games and felt good so hopefully someone will have noticed that and come in for me."

The injury problems that began with an abductor strain early in the season were unusual for a man who barely missed a match in his first two seasons for the club.

"That was the most frustrating thing for me because I was a virtual ever present before that," explained the 37-year-old who fell one short of 99 league appearances for Burnley.

"It was hard because the team was going for promotion and I just had to sit and watch from the stands. We missed out last season by two points and this time by only one goal - it was heart-breaking.

"But I got injured early in the season and when I came back I suffered the same problem. The good news is that since I came back again I have not had to miss training and did not even have a problem playing in both the Bank Holiday games."

Now Thomas faces an uncertain future and he confessed: "I don't know what is going to happen now. When I was out injured I was contemplating what I would do nest but when I came back I did think I might have a chance of being offered another year.

"It wasn't to be but I still have a lot of tremendous memories about my time at Burnley. Thanks to the crowd, the staff and the players I settled straight away when I came here and it was great to win promotion in my first year.

"Then we have done well in the two seasons in the first division and I think if you look at where the club was four or five years ago you can see how far it has come. It is now in a really healthy position."

Thomas is now just 14 away from an impressive 600 in a career that has seen him play for Spurs, West Ham and have two spells at Luton Town where he made his debut 20 seasons ago.

It is a milestone that he hopes to pass early next season although, like hundreds of other out of contract players, he knows he might have to wait for clubs to find out how much money, if any, they will get from ITV Digital before his phone starts ringing.

But wherever he ends up he is already planning to come back to Turf Moor and see his many friends.

"I have loved it up here, the people are great, the fans are great and I have made a lot of friends," he said.

And there is no doubt his efforts in the claret and blue have been appreciated by everyone at Turf Moor.