Hibs forward Dwight Gayle has admitted he is leaning towards retiring his playing career at the end of the season.
Gayle turned 35 in October, a month after signing a one-year contract with Hibs having left Derby County at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.
The striker has played nine times for the Hibees since joining with just two of those starts. But he’s began to show his worth in recent weeks with three direct goal involvements in his last four appearances.
However, ahead of Hibs visiting Aberdeen on Saturday, Gayle is already thinking about hanging up his boots come the conclusion of the campaign.
He feels is body isn’t able to function as well as it used to and recovery after games is harder than before.
Hibs veteran Gayle hints at retirement
Speaking to the press on Friday, Gayle said: “My body’s started to break down a bit and it is likely that I might pack it in. Nothing’s definite, but I feel like it’s pushing towards that way.
“At the moment I’m just focused on helping the team in any way I can and trying to get out there to help them in whatever way I can and in full support of the gaffer. I’ll always be available.
“It’s just a heap of things really. You’re not able to generate the same speed and power as other people. From game to game it’s hard to recover as quickly as before.
“I’ve always wanted to play, to help out the team and when I feel like I’m not able to do that, that’s a difficult time.
“I’d love to play football forever, but with injuries and stuff like that, your body starts to pick up stuff that you probably need to think about.
“It’s not just muscle injuries, there are other things as well that could affect you in later life, like maybe playing in the garden with your kids and stuff like that. There are things I need to take into consideration.”
Hibs experience has been ‘amazing’ for Gayle
Gayle continued: “In terms of the enjoyment factor for the last two years now, before each game, I’m thinking to myself that this is potentially one of your last ones, so try and enjoy it.
“Even before coming to Hibs, I was thinking this could be the last opportunity to do something like this, and it’s been amazing.
“As I said at the start, it was something that was very different and excited me in terms of the size of the club and the opportunities here to experience a lot of new feelings and play against some different teams and no more than the one on Boxing Day again that everyone spoke to me about.
“We’ve got a more important one on Saturday first of all, but definitely something to look forward to.”