James Milner interview: ‘You have to keep proving yourself again and again’

Liverpool midfielder on 20 years since his Leeds debut at 16 and his constant battle to stay competitive as he nears 600 league games

LONG HARD ROAD: Milner is closing in on 600 Premier League appearances.

AS a single-minded 36-year-old sportsman “just trying to keep going” at the highest level, James Milner has little time for reminiscing. With a momentous milestone on the horizon, however, he has no alternative. On Thursday the Liverpool midfielder will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his Premier League debut. Perhaps with a yoga session at home after training, though certainly not with an alcoholic drink.

It was at Upton Park on November 10, 2002 where Terry Venables launched the top-flight career of a 16-year-old Milner, bringing him on as an 84th-minute substitute for Jason Wilcox in Leeds’ 4-3 win over West Ham. For perspective, Wilcox is 51 and academy director at Man City. Nigel Martyn was on the Leeds bench and was the same age as Milner is now. The veteran goalkeeper took the Premier League’s then second-youngest debutant aside and urged him to savour every moment of a career that would flash by “like lightning”. Three Premier League, one Champions League, two FA Cup and two League Cup winners’ medals later, the conversation still resonates.