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You seemed to hit some of your best form at the end of the season for Blackburn Rovers when you were in the middle of a relegation battle!
Luckily for me my good form came at the right time! The fear of relegation is in the back of your mind so you want to do everything you can to make sure that doesn’t happen. It was a great end to the season, both personally and for the team to stay in the Premier League. Although that is not where you want to be at the end of the season, we still walked away on a high.

You had a strange situation during the season with your manager Sam Allardyce leaving unexpectedly and Steve Kean taking over. What was that like?
We had a style of play which probably wasn’t the most entertaining to watch or pleasing on the eye but it got results and each and every player knew what their job was. It takes time for a new manager to implement his ideas, the way he wants to play and for the players to understand that. After Sam left we found it a little bit tough and didn’t get the results that the performances deserved at times. But we ended up safe from relegation and the new manager has got some good ideas and a nice style of football so I’m really looking forward to the next season.

Did you get on well with Allardyce though?
Yeah, we got on well. I’ve never had a problem with any of my managers to be honest. I’ve been very lucky to have some very good managers.

On to the Socceroos, there is a lot of talk of the next generation of players, what’s that like for you as a senior member of the team? Invigorated or conscience of losing your spot?
I’m not worried about losing my spot and it’s good to see the young boys coming through. In the recent games against New Zealand and Serbia those young players were given their opportunity to show they can step up - it’s exciting times. For those games we had no Timmy [Cahill], Harry [Kewell] or [Mark] Schwarzer, so add those players in and we are looking good for the World Cup qualifiers.

How do you see your role in the team changing? Many players who have played in midfield find themselves dropping into defence – can you see yourself as the Socceroos right-back?
Yeah, that’s probably inevitable. At some stage I will drop back into the right-back position or maybe into the centre of midfield. Staying on the left or right of midfield is probably the toughest position physically – there’s a lot of running. At the moment I still feel okay and whilst my body enables me to play in midfield, I’m happy to do so.

Socceroo caps wise, you are now on 86. Has reaching three figures crossed your mind?
It has, but while 14 games doesn’t seem like a lot, it is still a couple of years worth of playing every game at international level, so still a long way away. But it’s something that’s achievable and will be a great milestone. Hopefully I’ll get there. If I don’t, I will still think that I am very happy with the career I’ve had so far.

When it comes to stepping aside and letting the younger players come through, who will make that decision? Are you going to put your hand up and say ‘I need to step aside or will Holger be doing that for you!?
In each individual case it’s different. I think some players will know themselves when their times up. Others will play until the death and have to be told.

Which one are you going to be?
I’ll know when my times up. I don’t want to continue playing until I’m no good to the team, I’ll know.

A lot of the recent talk in Australia has been of Harry Kewell joining the A-League. In the not too distance past you have been linked with Sydney FC, what is the truth to that speculation?
I’ve made it well known in the past that I’d love to play in Australia at some stage. I’ve got another year left at Blackburn Rovers and I’m looking to fulfill that at least and then see what the future holds. You will see me back in Australia, somewhere, at some stage. When that’s going to be, I don’t know myself yet.

Do you think that Blackburn will be your last Premier League club though?
I’d like it to be. It’s been my only Premier League club and I’ve enjoyed my time at the club - they’re been great to me. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it so I wouldn’t like to go anywhere else.

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Brett Emerton wears the Tiempo Legend IV Elite boots, RRP $400, and the Tiempo range of Nike training gear. Call 1300 656453 for Nike stockist information or head here to find out more about the Tiempo Legend IV Elite boots.