EXPERIENCED Theo Walcott stressed his desire to be a “role model” for his own children and added: “It means a lot to still play football.”

The former England international has seen his game time limited at Saints this season, having only played three times in the Premier League.

His only start of the campaign came in Saints’ 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle United – the game which proved to be Ralph Hasenhuttl’s final fixture in charge.

Walcott came off the bench for the final 31 minutes as Saints were beaten 3-1 by Liverpool before the World Cup break under new boss Nathan Jones.

The appearance was his 380th in the Premier League, having scored 78 times and registered 54 assists at England’s elite level.

Having come through Saints’ academy, the 33-year-old has also featured for Arsenal and Everton before rejoining Saints, initially on loan in October 2020.

And speaking to the club website, the three-time FA Cup winner insisted he was still savouring every moment of his career.

“We play football, and we’re privileged to play it, and I want to be that role model for my children when I go back home,” said Walcott.

“They want to know how my day was, I want to know how their day is. I always like to take a positive out of their day, and even a negative to an extent – can they turn it around into a positive? All these things – we’re still breathing, and that’s a positive in itself.

“There’s no problem being positive all the time – try finding a positive somewhere in something.

“I’m coming in each day thinking like it’s my last. I’m really privileged to be here, playing football still, at this age and for this long in the Premier League, especially at a really good club.

“I just look at it that way. I’m training with a really good young group, guys I want to be with, and it means a lot to still play football.

“I still care – that’s the main thing. I always have cared, I still care, and I’ll continue to do so until someone tells me I can’t.”

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