GLEN Little thought his career had finished in May following Conference play-off heartache with Wrexham.
However, the man with more than 500 league appearances including Premiership stints with Reading, Derby and Portsmouth could dust his boots off one last time to play in the less glamorous surroundings of the Ryman Premier league after getting a call from Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett.
The now 37-year-old made an appearance as a second-half substitute in Tuesday night’s 4-0 pre-season friendly defeat at the hands of Uxbridge. Nothing has yet been agreed between the two parties, but Little, who is also putting plans in place to do his coaching badges, claimed if the flesh was as willing as the spirit he would be happy to pitch in with Bartlett’s new-look side.
He said: “It would have been a great end to my career as a winner at Wembley, getting Wrexham back into the league, but it didn’t go our way. I did think that could be my lot, but when someone has the decency to ring you because they think you may be able to help out you have to respect that.
“I might have a few more run outs and if I feel I can help the team this season even just by being about the place and perhaps coming on as sub for 20 minutes or half an hour here and there, I’ll have a word with Gordon and see where we are up to. If the body feels alright and I think I have got something to offer then we’ll give it a go. If not and I don’t feel up to it anymore and the body is saying no then I’ll get on with the other side of life.”
His advancing years mean Little has had to reinvent himself as a central midfield player as opposed to the flying winger of his younger days with the Royals.
However, even amid a dreadful team performance at Honeycroft the veteran suggested he could provide the nous and vision to complement some of Stones’ younger talent.
He added: “When you get to my age it is hard to keep going up and down the wing anymore, so I’ve been going backwards down the pitch and now I’m just in the middle, keeping the ball and trying to bring others into the game.
Little’s signature would be a coup for Bartlett, still reeling from the serious injury suffered by Lewis Putman in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Hayes & Yeading.
Any scan on the knee must wait for the swelling to go down, but it is 90 per cent certain medial knee ligament damage will be diagnosed ruling him out until Christmas at least.
Meanwhile, Stones continue their pre-season by hosting a Chelsea XI at the Vale on Saturday – a game which will see the unveiling of the club’s new stand prior to the 3pm kick-off.
