- The midfielder has been ruled out through injury since facing Arsenal in August
- But Milner is insistent that his strong physical condition will protect his career
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James Milner has jetted to the Caribbean to unwind after a challenging season for Brighton with the end of their Premier League campaign.
The 39-year-old former Liverpool star was sidelined for the majority of the term under new manager Fabian Hurzeler, after injuring himself in just the third game of the season when the Seagulls met Arsenal.
After undergoing knee reconstruction, Milner had been targeting a return to action in December.
But a freak instance of damage to a nerve tendon set back his progress, with the midfielder making his first appearance since August in the final game of the season against Tottenham.
Milner looked keen to put the 2024-25 term behind him as he soaked up the sun with his wife Amy Fletcher.
The pair looked in similarly tip-top condition as they enjoyed the tropical climes of Barbados on Wednesday.
James Milner and his wife Amy Fletcher soaked up the sun in Barbados with the end of the Premier League season
The Brighton star looked in tip-top physical condition despite missing out on most of the term
The 39-year-old suffered a knee injury just three games in against Arsenal in August
Reflecting on his injury this week, Milner admitted that his fitness was what convinced him that he could continue playing into his forties.
‘I couldn’t lift my foot or my toes, not an ideal scenario,’ said the 39-year-old of the nerve damage. ‘I didn’t know whether I would be able to walk properly again let alone play football.
‘There was a chance I might not have come back at all. Nobody said quit. But with my age it was highly unlikely I would get back. I think that was one of the things that drove me most. My first aim was to try and get the knee as strong as possible which I did.
‘It’s been a long, tough road,’ he continued. ‘I don’t think many would have come back from this. The medical staff have been incredible.
‘We worked hard and thankfully it has paid off. I’ve just run out of time with the season. If the season was next week, I would be fit.’
Milner made his Premier League debut for Leeds at the age of 16 and won the title with both Manchester City and Liverpool.
He lifted the FA Cup and League Cup with both clubs and the Champions League with Liverpool in 2019, and has earned 61 England caps from 2009-16, but Milner believes that his journey is far from over.
‘I would like to keep playing,’ said Milner, who will be 40 in January. ‘I look at my fitness now and I feel good. I’ve definitely got another year left in me.
‘We’re in talks with the club and quite close so it will be nice to be here and be part of the team and help the boys. Hopefully I can be part of it.’
