Veteran striker Sharp, 40, keen to play on

"Players like Phil Jagielka [who played on to 40] kept me going and I kept him going and the people keeping me going now are people like David McGoldrick," he said.

"He's been flying and Barnsley are missing him lately. I had a good chat with him yesterday and we're going to try and meet up soon and get a team together. I want to play with him again."

Billy Sharp scored the first goals of his long professional career during a loan spell with Rushden & Diamonds in 2005 [Getty Images]

From Sharp-shooter to calling the shots?

Sharp has said he would like to move into management when he does hang up his boots.

This is his 22nd season in senior football and he believes he can use the experience he has gained across his lengthy playing career with a new generation of players.

"I'm not going to hide away from it, I want to be a manager one day. I know I'm going to have to do work to get there but I've been doing that for the past 10 years," he said.

"I've been getting my diplomas and whenever I've been sat on the bench at Doncaster I've been looking at other managers at what they do and trying to learn from them.

"I'm meeting a lot of people and learning as I go along. I'm an ambitious person.

"I've got a lot of experience and I want to use that to go and influence other groups in the next parts of my career."

But, for now, he is focused on adding to his goal tally and potentially reaching the landmark 300 goals.

Mid-table Doncaster host Stevenage on Saturday before travelling to Peterborough on the final day next week.

A calf injury has kept him out for the past five weeks but he hopes to be involved for Grant McCann's side in their final matches and sign off in style from a club which he called his "second home".

"I've still got two games left and I've scored five goals in two games before so who is to say I can't do it?"