Jonathan Walters has confirmed that he has no plans to retire from international football.
"As long as I’m needed, I’ll play," he told The Keith Andrews Show.
The Burnley attacker added that he made the decision following Ireland's 1-5 loss to Denmark in November:
"I think the plan was, we were going to get to the World Cup it was going to be great, I probably would have retired at the end of it. It would have been the pinnacle really, getting to a World Cup."
He was forced to watch from the stands as the Danes demolished Ireland in the Aviva Stadium:
"To have such a low like that when you’re not playing. I couldn’t have left it like that, I don’t think. That was probably a big reason behind it [his decision to continue playing]. I couldn’t have left it like that."
The 34-year-old told Keith Andrews that he recently met Martin O'Neill in London to discuss his international future and to inform him that he has no plans to retire.
"I think I can help, I believe in myself I think I can definitely do a job and I’m still fit. I still keep my fitness up even though I haven’t played this year a lot - or at all! I’m still in good nick and I know my fitness will always be up there. If I’m not running out there I’m on a machine with my arms to keep my lungs going," Walters continued.
The 51-cap international has made just three appearances for Burnley this season as he has struggled with injuries.
Walters told The Keith Andrews Show that he hopes to reach Euro 2020 with The Boys in Green:
"When you go through the team there’s young players in there - so if I can help them in any way shape or form, you know, I’ve been there, experienced it all. Hopefully, I can help them through it."
The Keith Andrews show is live on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and OffTheBall.com from 12:30 every Thursday and also available as a podcast.
