MICHAEL WILDE is in no mood to hang up his boots until someone ‘pats him on the shoulder’ to tell him it’s time to pack it in.

Still going strong, still scoring and adding more assists to his game at the grand young age of 36, Wilde admits he’s enjoying his football more than ever as Connah’s Quay Nomads threaten to end The New Saints’ domination of the Welsh domestic scene.

Nomads head to Barry Town United in Sunday’s Cymru Premier match of the weekend in top spot - a position Wilde wants his side to keep heading into the second half of the season.

Describing Nomads’ rise in the three and a half years he’s been at The Deeside Stadium as ‘an amazing transition’, Wilde said: “We’re progressing every year. In Europe our results have been good, especially this season. We’ve won the Welsh Cup and we keep pushing TNS in the league.

“I don’t think you can underestimate the work Andy Morrison has done here. We’re in a good position so far and we have a good team, a balance of experience and young lads..

“There’s a real enjoyment factor here and I’m still highly motivated to carry on playing football.

“I’ve got miles left in the legs, a smile on my face and until I get that pat on the shoulder to tell me that it’s time, I’ll carry on.”

Wilde, who is in his 13th season in the Welsh Premier League, won trophies galore with The New Saints where he scored 151 goals in 214 appearances in two spells.

Wilde wants to add to his trophy collection and a victory at Jenner Park on Sunday would keep Nomads ahead of Barry and Scott Ruscoe’s Saints.

“They’re a good outfit, with a good manager and good players,” added Wilde, who hopes he can add to his tally after scoring a typical poacher’s goal in last Friday’s 1-1 draw at home to TNS.

“Coming back against TNS showed what we are like. We’ve got the experience in our squad, we’ve got the belief but most importantly we’ve got team spirit.”

Continuing his love of playing in Europe is also keeping Wilde going - especially after their brilliant win over Kilmarnock.

Trailing 2-1 heading to Scotland, Nomads stunned their hosts 2-0 at Rugby Park courtesy of goals from Ryan Wignall and Callum Morris.

“It’s got to be,” said Wilde when asked if this was the best of the 39 Welsh top-flight wins in European competition.

“Firstly because it’s the victory at the front of our minds, but also because of the opponent and the size of the team that we beat.

“It’s certainly my best victory in Europe. Scoring a hat-trick in the Champions League is something that I will always have, but that Kilmarnock win was out of this world.”

Nomads’ draw against The Saints secured a new club record of 13 league games unbeaten in a week that saw boss Andy Morrison celebrate four years in the job.

And Wilde was full of praise for his boss, insisting: “Andy’s got his way of doing things but we all buy into it.

“You only have to look at the last few years to see what he has achieved at this club.

“He was linked with the Wrexham job and I was surprised they didn’t take a gamble with him.

“Wrexham have under-achieved and find themselves in a position they didn’t expect to. Andy Morrison would have certainly galvanised them.

“But I can see why they went for Dean Keates. He was successful with them before.”

Morrison, pictured above, will look to celebrate his four-year anniversary with a win at second-placed Barry Town and said: “In the last four years we have set records and this (unbeaten run) is another accolade to be proud of. We’ll go to Barry and look to give a great account of ourselves and try to find a way to win the game.”