WITH a combined age of 71, Gudni Bergsson and Teddy Sheringham offer conclusive proof that the thirtysomethings have plenty to offer the Premiership.

The Wanderers' skipper is playing the best football of his career while his Spurs counterpart continues to figure in England's World Cup plans.

On Monday the two went head to head at White Hart Lane, where they once shared a dressing room. That they can still cut it at the top level is a testimony to their dedication, determination and devotion - qualities their old boss, Bruce Rioch, is only too pleased to have had at his disposal.

Here in an EXCLUSIVE appraisal, the former Wanderers and Millwall manager explains why they are still strutting their stuff.

They told me he was trouble but he was as good as gold

I HAD my card marked when I went to Millwall in 1990 when the club had just been relegated from the old First Division to the Second. I knew I was taking over an experienced side and when I spoke to the previous manager he told me the one player I might have a bit of trouble with was Teddy Sheringham.

To my eternal relief and delight, it turned out to be quite the opposite.

Teddy was a fantastic man to work with, a fine person and still is a fantastic footballer. His dedication to training and practice was exceptional. He would be there in the morning before training with Ian Evans, who now works with Mick McCarthy in the Republic of Ireland set-up, and he'd be there again with the coaches and management after the other players had gone, always working on his free kicks and finishing.

He had always been a goalscorer - usually in the low 20s - but the season I had him, we worked hard at getting into positions where he could be even more productive and he got 38 goals for us. He loved the challenge ... even at the end of that season when he was on 33 goals with three games to play, we asked him if he could get to 40. He only just missed it.

Teddy's strengths were and always have been his knowledge of the game, his timing, his touch and his elusiveness. It's often been said that he's not the fastest but he is quick of thought. He drops away from the central defenders and has a great ability to link the midfield with the front line. I can only think of one player who does that to the same effect and that is Dennis Bergkamp.

But he's a top goalscorer too, with a vast range of goals; exceptionally cool in the penalty box and a fantastic finisher.

He was the number one player in that Millwall team of ours but we could not hold onto him. We were a stock market listed club - one of only two at the time - and we had to sell players to make the books balance. Teddy was the one we had to sell.

Surprisingly at the time, we received an offer of £2 million CASH from Blackburn, where Don Mackay was the manager. I remember thinking 'Where have Blackburn got that sort of money?' But we know now that it was Jack Walker's. In the end, Teddy decided not to go there and went to Nottingham Forest instead to play for Brian Clough.

After that he moved to Spurs then onto Manchester United and now he's back at White Hart Lane ... and still one of England's finest. I would undoubtedly take him to the World Cup Finals.

We never replaced him at Millwall. You can't replace a player like that. Other players had done well alongside him - Malcolm Allen, John Goodman, Chris Armstrong and John McGinlay - but it was too much to ask any of them to give us what Teddy had given us.

But Teddy has gone from strength to strength. He has perfected his positional play and is so difficult to contain.

Why is he still playing at the highest level? Because he is a naturally fit man and he just loves the game. But above all he has talent and ability. He also has the motivation - not only to do well for Spurs but for England too.

Gudni turned out to be an exceptional footballer

ICAN'T help looking back and thinking what might have been if I hadn't taken the trouble to take in a reserve match at Wimbledon's old Plough Lane ground back in 1995.

I was at home in Harpenden after a weekend game at Burnden Park and saw Wimbledon Reserves v Crystal Palace Reserves on the fixture list, kicking off at two in the afternoon. I rang to find out who was in the line-ups and was told Gudni Bergsson's name was on the teamsheet.

'What's Bergsson doing at Crystal Palace,' I wondered. So I decided to go and see for myself.

I saw him play centre-back and when I checked out his situation, I discovered that he'd been back to Iceland to do some law studies and was back in England looking to pick up where he'd left off. Tottenham wanted to part company and they were letting him guest for Palace. Gerry Francis was asking £200,000 but, with a bit of perseverance, I got him for £65,000.

What a steal! Dick Turpin got hanged for less.

At the time I was looking for cover right across the Bolton back line. I wanted a right-back, a right centre-back, a left-back and a left centre-back. I actually got two players - Gudni and John Dreyer - to cover all four positions!

Gudni has turned out to be a godsend for the Wanderers. A gentleman, a fantastic man to have at your football club and an exceptional footballer.

We signed a few continentals at the time - players like Mixu Paatelainen, Richard Sneekes - and they were all brilliant for us.

In Gudni's case he had pace to burn, which is always a great asset for a defender, good on the ball, cool under pressure, disciplined, dedicated ... he is a star and I'm delighted to see he is still around and still playing so well.

When I went back up to Bolton for John McGinlay's testimonial, Gudni told me he was thinking of going back to Iceland. I advised him to think twice about giving up the game because he might live to regret it.

At that age, once you give up, there's really no chance of going back. I know he's a family man and misses being with his wife and children. I can appreciate that because I've been in the same boat so many times down the years. But he has the football which keeps him motivated and, having seen him play at Ipswich recently, he still has so much to offer.

He marshals the defence and his experience and speed is a major plus. Like Sheringham, Gudni is a naturally fit man. They have both looked after their bodies but fitness alone isn't enough in the Premiership. You have to be a good athlete, you have to be dedicated but you must have talent.

When you get older you need that motivation too. In Gudni's case that means doing well for Bolton and doing well in the Premiership.

I know he still talks of retirement but who knows what will happen at the end of this season?