Sunday 22 March 2009

Is Alexander that Marathon Man?


Would you believe it if I tell that, the man that has played the most amount of games this season is a 37 year old Scotsman.
Burnley’s Graham Alexander has played no fewer than 51 games and has played in every single minute of those games. In this run, the right back has also played in an unprecedented three lots of extra time as well. This is equivalent to 4,680 minutes and countless amounts of injury time for the promotion chasers.
He has been coined the marathon man as he shows no signs of slowing down. As Manchester United are the next team on the list with 49 games, it shows how good Burnley have done this season. Nemanja Vidic has made the most appearances for the Red Devils this season and that is only 40 games(three as substitute), compared to Alexander’s 51.
To make Alexander’s record even more astonishing is that he has managed to squeeze in four games for his native Scotland as well. The marathon man indeed.
The former Scunthorpe United, Luton Town and Preston North End player is still loving every minute and has enjoyed cup ties against some of the country’s best. Ties against Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham, Chelsea, Arsenal and West Brom have added to Burnley’s hectic schedule and the list of Alexander’s conquests.
If Burnley were to reach the playoff final there is a prospect of another 10 games before their season is possibly over making Alexander’s games pass the 60 mark.
Burnley have got a good chance to take their chance in the playoffs and if they were promoted, it would be the first time in the Premier League since relegation at the end of the 1975-76 campaign.
If Burnley’s manager Owen Coyle got anything to do by Alexander still could be playing professional football well into his 40s. and good luck to him.

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