One of the club’s biggest stalwarts, the Novocastrian is thoroughly enjoying his football and at 33 there’s still plenty left in the tank.

Middleby has also revealed how he has stressed the value of versatility to the club’s big new hit Shannon Cole.

He told au.fourfourtwo.com: “I would really like to go around for another year. It would be good to get things sorted.”

The chance to perform alongside and help bring on the likes of Cole is another attraction. Middleby is a big Cole fan and has stressed to the former state league performer how he should embrace versatility.

He said: “In some of the top leagues overseas, you have very big squads and maybe the coach has several players for a particular position.

“That’s not the case here with only 20 or so players. If you can do a job well in more than position then you are going to be an important player for a coach.

“I get on well with Shannon, we’ve had a few chats and it was great to see him make the initial squad for the Qatar game.

“I think what that (Cole’s situation) will do is see other players in state leagues look at that and think ‘why not me?’