Described as a 'freak' by Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell, the midfielder is displaying few signs of the ageing process.

His body has stood the test of the time along with the male model looks and only the occasional grey hair invades a jet black mop. In a pre-season that ranked as one of the toughest of his career, Speed still managed to out-run many of his younger team-mates.

It is hard to believe that the former Welsh international will turn 40 next year.

However, despite his enviable ability to stay young, Speed has yet to decide whether this season will be his last. His playing contract expires next summer and the lure of coaching or management is calling.

If the Blades do win promotion to the Premier League, his story could even end up where it all started. For the last time Speed spent a full season at this level, it ended in glory as Leeds won the Second Division title.

Ahead of his side's opening day trip to Birmingham City, Speed says winning the Championship is a tougher task now than at the dawn of the Nineties. Yet, despite citing the improved levels of fitness and technique, he is confident that the Blades are equipped to meet the challenge.

"The Championship is a very tough league and it is a tougher test to win promotion now than it was in the old days," he said.

"The game has evolved; sometimes it is better, sometimes it isn't, but I still get excited about the start of a new season. As soon as I stop getting that buzz from playing, I will pack it all in."

Speed, who became the first player to make 500 appearances in the Premier League, missed only one game in last season's late push for promotion and insists that he can still play 90 minutes on a weekly basis. Whether he will choose to take his career in another direction next season remains to be seen.


"I don't know how long I can go on," he said. "This season is the last on my contract as a player and I am not looking beyond that. We will just evaluate things at the end of the season.

"I still feel good and really fit and I am fortunate to be playing for a club with great support. I realise how lucky I am to play at a good club against good teams in good stadiums. I won't be doing this for ever so I might as well enjoy it while I can."

Speed was given his first introduction to coaching last season under Sammy Lee at Bolton but things did not work out as planned and he soon returned to his main role as a player.

By his own admission, Speed has revised his attitude to training and is thoroughly enjoying the work involved under Blackwell at Bramall Lane.
"I have been at places where there have been people who didn't want to succeed, people who have just gone through the motions in training," he said.
"That does not happen here. Training at this place is unbelievable because of the attitude of the players. Everybody wants to do well and be successful.

"I still have a moan but I am probably a bit more laid back now," he added. "I am just trying to enjoy everything."

Blackwell is likely to start with a midfield four comprising Speed, Michael Tonge, David Cotterill and Stephen Quinn today at St Andrews.

Birmingham, who have invested heavily in new players after suffering relegation last season, will also be looking to get off to a flyer.

"It is always important to get a good start to the season," said Speed.

"But sometimes you do get strange results on the first day. Hopefully, we will win but, if we don't, it's not the end of the world. We will still have 45 more games to get it right.

"I think Birmingham and Reading will be the two to fear most this season and Wolves and Bristol City could also be up there. But I am convinced we can do well because of the quality of the players we have got.

"We had a meeting at the start of the season and we were asked 'what are the objectives?' Someone said 'promotion' but someone else said 'no, our objective is to be the Champions!' Now we all feel the same. We want to be Champions this season."

Although the Blades failed to achieve an immediate return to the Premier League last season, Blackwell's arrival as manager in February was the catalyst for a dramatic improvement in form. Victories in eight of the last 11 games dragged the Blades out of the relegation zone and to the brink of the play-offs.

"We will be trying to keep the same principles that took us into the end of last season," reflected Speed. "And if there are high expectations on us it can only mean you are at a good club."