Ex-Spurs and Liverpool striker Peter Crouch would 'love' QPR return

Peter Crouch is planning to play on until he is 40 and would love to return to QPR before he retires.

The former England and Spurs striker made his professional breakthrough at Loftus Road after starting his career in the youth ranks at White Hart Lane.

Crouch, who is from west London, spent one season with QPR at the turn of the millennium, earning him a £1.5million move to Portsmouth and he now says he would like to return to the club before his career comes to an end.

The 37-year-old striker told ITV London: "I've played for quite a few clubs but quite a few of them I hold dearly, really. I think QPR is one of my favourites because that's where I started.

"My friends and family are QPR fans, as well, so that's one that is really close to my heart and I always said I would go back there one day and I would love to go back there."

Although in the twilight of his career, Crouch believes he has a number of years left in the game. He is currently playing for Championship side Stoke and feels his body can cope with the rigours of professional football for a few more seasons.

"I spoke with Mark Hughes when he was manager at Stoke, he played until he was 40, and we had a few chats about it and he was like 'I think you can do that'.

"I've, sort of, set myself a target of that now; I still feel fit, I still do what all the rest of the players do, I don't take any sort of time off or rest, I like to be on the training pitch every single day, I still love it, so I'll do it for as long as possible.

"I think every player I know who has retired, that I speak to, 100 per cent of them said 'play as long as you can', so I will do that for as long as my body will allow me."