I feel like I can keep going, says energised McCleary

LONDON (CMC):

Veteran Reggae Boy Garath McCleary says he had no intention of slowing down after scoring a brace last weekend in Wycombe Wanderers’ 3-1 thrashing of Carlisle in the English League One.

At 36, the forward is in the twilight of his professional career but has scored four of his six goals since the start of the year to help Wycombe into 11th spot in the league, with only two games remaining in the campaign.

“I don’t know. I feel like I can keep going,” said McCleary who was part of the Jamaica squad which reached the final of the 2015 Concacaf Gold Cup.

“I’m feeling really good – the gaffer (Matt Bloomfield) has given me the platform to perform as well.

“Certain days if I need a bit of a rest he’s given me but I think I’ve missed two games this season. I don’t know what it is but long may it continue.”

McCleary took the plaudits on Saturday, first tapping in from the goalmouth in the 15th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, and then producing a bullet header in the 75th minute to make sure of the points.

In between, Alfie McCalmont levelled for Carlisle in the 28th before Richard Kone put Wycombe ahead again in the 49th.

Special sentimental value

McCleary said scoring the goals at Brunton Park had special sentimental value.

“I think it’s going back 17 years now, I got my first professional goal for (Nottingham) Forest against Carlisle so it brings back a lot of memories,” said McCleary, who made over a 100 appearances in four seasons at City Ground.

“[I stayed] on the keeper [for the first goal] and thankfully it bobbled down to me … luckily I was there to prod it in.

“[For the second goal], it’s a great ball by Luke (Leahy). I made my mind up to make sure I was around the back post and thankfully it came to me and luckily I got my head on it first.”

Wycombe have gone on a great run of form with wins in their last three outings. They take on Cambridge today before wrapping up their season against Charlton at home at Adams Park.

And McCleary said they were hoping to win both games and end in the top 10 in the league.

“I think it is the third win in a week we’ve had – we’ve had three games in a week – so it’s been fantastic,” he said.

“We’ve got another one coming up against Cambridge on Tuesday.

“We’ve set a target, we want to get back into the top 10, so hopefully we can win that and see it off in style against Charlton at home.”