MICHEL Salgado insists there is plenty of Premier League life left in him yet after pointing to Manchester United’s ‘golden oldies’ as his footballing inspir-ation.

Ryan Giggs, 37, and Paul Scholes, 36, are bidding to help the Premier League top dogs to victory over Barcelona in the Champions League final tomorrow night, giving veteran Salgado hope of playing a couple more seasons at the highest level.

Former Spain international Salgado, a two-time Cham-pions League winner with Real Madrid, started more games than any other Blackburn Rovers player last season and, aged 35, insists he has no plans of giving it up yet.

The tenacious right back is out of contract next summer but, having coped with the best the Premier League had to throw at him, he is not ruling out extending his top flight career further still.

Salgado said: “I am surprised by my physical shape, to be honest.

"After running for 17 years, I feel really well. For sure, there is now a lack of pace – that is normal.

"Even Ryan Giggs suffers it. He used to be really, really quick but I proved the other week he has lost some of that. But he is unbelievable.

“I feel really well and I feel I can play at least one more season. And if next season is like this one, why not play some more? Keep going.

“If I think I can help the team, I will do. If not, I say, okay, it's time to retire.

"The most important thing is the club and I don't want to be struggling after all I have done in my career.”

Salgado’s much heralded arrival at Ewood Park back in August 2009 was slow to take off, with most Rovers fans questioning why Sam Allardyce had worked so hard to bring the defender to East Lancashire after a torrid start.

It was not long before his never say die attitude and meaty challenges won the Ewood faithful around and is now established as a first team regular at Blackburn Rovers.

Salgado said: “I feel really well. It took me three months to settle into the pace of this league and physically it is unbelievable.

"It is really strong, this league.

“But now I am feeling really well and enjoying it.

"My character is a winning one and I like to play in every game.

"I think I have played in 36 this season and that is a good number for me.

“Ryan Giggs is unbelievable. He is my footballing hero. The week before last we had a quick chat.

"I congratulated him on his career and he said, 'Same to you'.

"It is great to see players like him and Scholes playing top, top level with the same spirit as they had when they were young.”