Southampton striker Shane Long believes that he is the fastest that he has ever been in his career.

The 33-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down in the Premier League.

The Saints frontman is out of contract in the summer, but he believes that he is in better shape than any other stage of his playing career.

"Someone told me the other day that it had been 200 days since I played 90 minutes and I played 85 [against Norwich] five days beforehand," he told reporters.

"You've got to keep yourself fit for when that chance does come your way because it comes at strange times, when you least expect it.

"When there are lads in the dressing room who were born in the year 2000 - I think 'what?!' But my body feels good.

"When you get the stats after a game it's always nice to see what you've done and I hit the fastest speed I've ever recorded against Newcastle. Apparently it was 10.4 metres per second.

"So I've still got my pace and that's one of my main attributes.

"The game's gone more professional over here over the years, there's a lot more work on players getting faster with work in the gym to make their muscles stronger. I like to think I'm benefitting from that.

"I do a lot of high-metre running and pressing and running in behind defences, so I'm making sure I keep doing a lot of long sprints to prolong my career.

"People ask how long I think I've got left and I can't see it ending at the moment.

"I don't feel I'm at that stage yet, I feel strong and ready to go. Long may it continue."