Steven Naismith has two years to run on his Hearts contract – but the former Everton star says he’ll have his annual debate on whether to continue playing after the summer.
The forward has enjoyed a stellar career in football, representing big clubs like Everton and Rangers. He signed a four-year deal with Hearts in 2019 as he continued to be selected for the Scotland National Team, but as he turns 35 next season, manager Robbie Neilson says he’s ’50-50-‘ on whether to call it a day or not.
But Naismith says it’s something he speaks of annually, the Everton hero commenting: “I talk about that quite literally every summer I’ll sit and have a couple of weeks off and then I think to myself, ‘What do I want to do?’
“Something that’s always been at the back of my mind, especially after having some bad injuries, when I finish playing I still want to have a decent quality of life in terms of what I can do, fitness-wise, playing football, whatever.
“I’ve always thought I’m not going to play until my body gives up, I don’t think that would be the right thing to do. I’d say probably for the last two years over the summer I’ve sat and thought, ‘Do I want to continue playing?’
“In all honesty that’s the only decision I’ll have. If I want to continue playing I’ll take my break, get as fit as I can and come back for pre-season and if I don’t want to then I’ll then have the conversations that need to be had. But I’ll know what the decision is. In previous years that’s been the case.”
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