Saturday Interview: 'Marathon Man' Speed makes his special tribute to Robson

Yet when it comes to running this month's London Marathon, the Sheffield United coach is looking to get things done as quickly as he can.

Speed, who played his last game for the Blades 15 months ago, is a key member of Kevin Blackwell's backroom staff at Bramall Lane.

The former Welsh international regards his role as an 'apprenticeship'and has learned a great deal during what has been a difficult season.

Speed, however, will be all on his own in three weeks' time – when he attempts to run 26 miles around the streets of London in aid of the Bobby Robson Foundation.

At 40, Speed may no longer be fit enough to play professional football but says the fitness required to complete a marathon is different.

"With the injury I have got, I can't really play because I have no power or speed. I could still stand in the middle of the park and knock the ball about – but I am not up to the pace of this league any more," he admitted.

"I had an operation on my back because a disc had come out and infected the nerve. Now the glute muscle in my right leg won't fire and, without that, you struggle to jump and have no explosion of speed."

The Blades, who host Barnsley today, could certainly have done with a fully-fit Speed this season.

A sequence of only three wins in 14 games has all but destroyed hopes of play-off qualification.

With six games to play, the Blades are seven points adrift of the top six and need a massive reversal of fortune to gatecrash the promotion party.

"It's been a difficult season because we have sold players and had to bring in so many new players who have not known each other," he reflected. "Given everything that's gone on, it is an achievement that we still have a chance. The chairman is safeguarding the long-term future of the club which can only be right."

Speed has shared Blackwell's frustrations as countless injury setbacks have compounded unwelcome yet essential budget cuts at Bramall Lane.

"We have not given up on promotion although we have left ourselves a bit short, and with a bit too much to do. There are six games to go and, if we win all six, who knows what might happen?" he said.

"The manager has coped with things brilliantly. It has been all about getting the best out of players in difficult circumstances. Although it has been frustrating at times, the experiences I have gained are massive."

On stepping up to management, Speed says: "No-one can say when it will be the right time. For now, I am very happy doing what I am doing and want to carry on learning.

"I spoke to Swansea City this season but it was just a phone call and that doesn't mean I am 'actively' looking. I'm in no rush and you can't really set an exact timescale."

During his two decades as a player, Speed won a league title with Leeds United, played for boyhood heroes Everton and in the Champions League for Newcastle, before enjoying an 'Indian summer' with Bolton Wanderers.

A Bryan Robson signing for the Blades in January, 2008, he was just starting to make another big impression when injury curtailed his career.

Speed was dubbed the 'Marathon Man' by his former manager at Newcastle, Sir Bobby Robson.

And after attending Robson's funeral last summer, Speed was inspired to raise money for his cancer charity.

"He called me the 'Marathon Man' because I played every game and was very rarely injured. The great thing about Bobby was his ability to handle players. He knew how to talk to people even though he was an older manager from another generation.

"He knew that football had changed and that circumstances were different for players in terms of money. He still knew how to talk to them and get the best out of them. No-one ever had a bad word to say about Bobby and attending that service for him just struck a chord with me."

With Blades fitness coach Dean Riddle for company, Speed embarked on 14-16 mile training sessions in preparation for the London event on April 25.

"My wife has done a couple of marathons in the past and it was something that I'd always wanted to do," he said. "But finding the time to train has not always been easy so I will just try do the best I can."

While the Blades still cling to the possibility of a return to the Premier League, Speed's first club Leeds are faltering in trying to secure automatic promotion from League One.

Speed insists that now is not the time for panic .

"If you look at it logically, Leeds are still in a great position. It's difficult because they are in a bad run of form and confidence may be low but that can all turn around with one result.

"If you had given them this position at the start of the season, I think everyone would have taken it," he stressed. "It's important now that they forget the last six weeks and get that win. If they don't go up automatically, they have to go into the play-offs thinking positively. It is no good dwelling on 'what-ifs'."

Anyone wishing to donate to the Bobby Robson Foundation by sponsoring Gary Speed in the London Marathon should visit www. justgiving.com/GarySpeed11

He is also raising funds for the cancer charity set up by former Welsh team-mate John Hartson. Visit www. johnhartsonfoundation.com/london-marathon-2010.asp