McAllister - Still keen after all these years
By Brian Scott
Gary McAllister is only a few months short of his 36th birthday but he awaits the start of a new season in England with the same keenness as when setting out as a kid north of the border. Moving to Liverpool from Coventry this summer, at such an advanced stage in his career, evidently has had the effect of some powerful elixir concocted to reinstate his youth.
Who said life starts at 40? The distinguished former Scotland captain is, if you like, at the threshold of a new beginning some five years early as he awaits his competitive debut for the Anfield club, possibly in their opening league match against Bradford tomorrow.
'I remember getting a great buzz when I moved to Leeds from Leicester and won a championship with them,' he enthused yesterday. 'I got the same feeling when I played with Scotland in major championships. 'Joining Liverpool, especially at my time of life, is right up there alongside those experiences. I'm just as excited about what lies ahead as I was all those years ago when I was at Motherwell.'
It has been reported from the south that manager Gerard Houllier's principal motive for signing McAllister was to add some vital experience to a side which might otherwise falter through naivety. Such an interpretation takes no account of the ability which the Scot can bring to a side whose traditional passing style is entirely in keeping with his own.
But, if he is expected to act as a guardian to the young, then he's game for that, as well. 'People reckoned last season that the average age of the Liverpool side was 25, so I've instantly put a few years on to that,' the midfielder quipped. 'If I can, I'll help the lads around me, although I expect I'll be bouncing off them, as well.'
Alex Miller, who has worked alongside McAllister with both Scotland and Coventry and is Liverpool's European scout, attests to the fact that the player has made an auspicious start in his new environment. 'I think Gary is pretty pleased with the way things have gone so far and the other players certainly appear to have responded well to him,' he said. 'He's always been a good pro and those sharing the dressing room with him are likely to pick up on his good habits.'
Miller admitted to being a long-time admirer of McAllister's willingness to work for the common cause, a quality which could benefit Liverpool as they strive to usurp Manchester United as champions. 'Gary was always a team player,' Scotland's erstwhile assistant manager said. 'He always put the team's interests before his own. If he got injured at international level, for example, he would want to stay on the field. 'It never entered his mind, as it would with others, to come off and save himself for a weekend club game.'
What remains to be seen with McAllister is how frequently he features in Houllier's team as they seek to combine their efforts in domestic competitions with a worthwhile run in Europe.
They could be looking at a schedule involving well over 50 games, although he is circumspect about his prospects, saying: 'All I can go on is the fact that I was an ever-present with Coventry last season and have done all the preparation for this one. 'I'm one of about 25 players vying for places so there's healthy competition. We'll be playing virtually two games a week so I'll just have to wait and see how things turn out. 'I wouldn't like to predict how we might do in the Premiership. Let's just say we have enough good players to do well in it.'