FOR the first time in 18 years Wes Brown was facing the prospect of not starting a pre-season at a club.

So he went on holiday.

Three days into his getaway his phone rang. It was Owen Coyle offering him the chance to join Blackburn Rovers for training.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The former Manchester United and England defender jokingly admits his first thought was how long he had left on his break.

As it transpired, it was perfect timing. He would be back home a day before Rovers began their preparations for the campaign ahead.

But Brown’s thoughts soon turned to the next chapter in his decorated football career.

After being released by Sunderland some may have expected the 36-year-old to hang up his boots.

After five Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, two FA Cups, three League Cups, and 23 international caps, what more was there to achieve?

But the desire in Brown to continue playing burns as brightly as when he made his professional debut in May 1998 in a 3-0 win for United over Leeds at Old Trafford.

“Not until these two bad boys (slaps legs) says I can’t anymore, no,” said Brown when asked whether he had considered quitting.

“I don’t think it’s ever come into my head that I can’t be bothered anymore or I don’t need it anymore.

“It’s always still the same for me. As long as these (legs) can do it I’m pretty sure I’ll be trying to do it.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

After linking up with Rovers for the first day of pre-season Brown’s enthusiasm got the better of him when he travelled with the rest of the squad to the club’s training camp in Austria.

“To be fair it was probably my own fault,” remembers Brown of the injury which delayed Coyle’s plans to sign him.

“My calf was feeling a bit tight and maybe I should have been more senior and mature and not done the running that day. It’s just my nature to carry on.

“But even when the injury happened the gaffer was fine, he just told me to get it right, get back in training, have a few games, and we’d get something sorted.”

After proving his fitness by playing in behind-closed-doors clashes and for the under-23s, Brown this week signed a contract until the end of the season.

He will be involved in the squad which tomorrow travels to Derby County where Rovers will attempt to make it back-to-back Championship victories after a seven-game winless start to the campaign.

“I’d pretty much settled in before I signed because I’ve been here since day one of this season but I’m just happy now to get it sorted,” said Brown, who is ‘fit and ready’ to face the Rams.

“It’s been a disappointing start because we’ve got good players and we show that in training every day. But I’ve watched the games and they could easily have gone the other way. But that’s football. You can’t let that get to you. You’ve just got to think positive and get on with it.

“In the last league game we played really well against Rotherham. Hopefully we can take confidence and carry on against Derby.

“We’re away from home but the confidence levels are high, training has been good this week, and we can go there with no fear.”

And will there be any nerves before what could be his 449th club appearance?

“I’ll be fine,” said Brown. “I’ve been doing this for a while.”