He may have only just made his first start since a long-term injury suffered in May last year but Luke Varney is already considering the prospect of ending his playing career with Town.

The 33-year-old striker accepts he still has a long way to go before knowing whether he will even be required beyond the end of the current campaign, having only signed a short-term contract last month after proving he had made a full recovery from the achilles injury sustained in the play-off semi-final at home to Norwich in May last year.

Varney said: “It was on the Monday after I had my operation that the gaffer rang me and said ‘We’ll honour exactly what we said to you. Once you’re fit and have proved your fitness we’ll give you the deal’.

“It was only a verbal agreement and things can happen in football but we all know the gaffer is a very honest man.

“I think if I’d shown any sort of level of fitness and been able to compete in the side it was going to happen.

“From my point of view I wanted to prove I was ready because there was no point in me being here just to be a spare part.

“I probably had between two and three weeks of training and then I thought I was ready. We had a good chat and things happened quite quickly.

“Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, even if it’s just pushing the good strikers we’ve got, then I’ll be happy with that. Hopefully I will get a few minutes and we’ll go from there.

“Would I like to end my career here? Yes, why not? At the minute my sole focus is to get as many minutes as I can, pushing the lads and helping to cement our play-off spot.

“After that, who knows? It could be another crack at the Premier League for me. If not, I’d like to stay and help the lads try to achieve it again.”

Varney is unlikely to follow his start against Portsmouth on Saturday with another against in-form Leeds at Portman Road this evening, with a place on the bench the likeliest option as Town are set to welcome back Daryl Murphy and Freddie Sears.

He added: “I’ve never had a bad word to say about any of the clubs I’ve been at. It got a little bit difficult at Portsmouth because of the administration and we had some players on big wages.

“It was hard to make them feel okay. It was a tough period — fans were at the training ground and I thought the club hung us out to dry a little bit at times.

“We were trying our hardest but the fans found it difficult to connect with the players. We did our best every week and that’s all you can do as a footballer.

“I’m looking forward to going back next week for the replay and seeing a few old friends.

“I played quite a lot in my last season at Leeds but when Brian McDermott came in he had a different view and that was fine by me. I knew Blackburn were interested so it was a case of us both moving on.

“I have nothing but good things to say about Leeds. It’s a great club and everyone talks about the size of it. I hope they get back to the Premier League where they belong as well. It’s going to be a tough game but we’re looking forward to it.

“They are on a good run and I know all their good young players. Cookie [Lewis Cook] was on his way up and was joining the first team for training.

“You could see he was going to be a great player. Alex Mowatt’s another one, Luke Murphy as well, and I can’t forget Sam Byram, who they are ready to sell to a Premier League club.

“Sam came into the squad the pre-season when I signed and he was fantastic. There are big things to come for him in the game, I’m sure.

“It will be a good game against Leeds, similar to the Portsmouth one if I’m being honest, because of the way they play. They have a lot of technically gifted players and we’re looking forward to locking horns with them.

“I’m still looking for my first goal at Portman Road. I hoped it might have come on Saturday but hopefully there will be other chances. Maybe against Leeds — that would be nice.”

Photo: Action Images

Fatboy added 09:37 - Jan 12 "Luke Varney is already considering the prospect of ending his playing career with Town." Back in May, he very nearly did. I was impressed with what little I saw of him last season so it's good to have him back. I think he'll cause a bit of mayhem in oppositions' defences with his aerial ability, but he will probably be restricted to the final 10-20 minutes of matches at least to start with.

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bluelodgeblue added 10:53 - Jan 12 His career hasn't really started yet and already he's talking about finishing it.......?
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RoyKeanesDog added 14:53 - Jan 12 After his comments he made about town and especially the fans after the play-offs, I'm happy to see him pushing the other strikers. He's clearly grateful for the support he has had, and will give 100%. Even if he's not going to set the league on fire, it will keep the strikers on their toes knowing that's somebody who would love a crack at having a start. Good luck, Luke.

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Seasider added 15:01 - Jan 12 That's what Jonny Parr didn't want Reg,just like you;to be a spare part but he was.
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