No goodbyes for Mark Schwarzer yet

Mark Schwarzer says he has yet to be offered a new contract at Fulham as he prepares for what could be his final game with the club at Craven Cottage.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper’s deal expires at the end of the season and although he has been in talks with the club, nothing has been firmed up yet.

However, Schwarzer says he is not concerned about his future and has no thoughts about retirement, even if his five-year stay at Fulham comes to an end this month.

“There has been a discussion but there’s no actual offer on the table at the moment,” said Schwarzer.

“Basically we’re in a position where we’re going to wait until the end of the season and see where we go from there. I’m just concentrating on playing football and playing as well as I possibly can. One way or another it will be sorted out. I’ve got no concerns about that, whether it’s at Fulham or elsewhere.”

Schwarzer added another milestone in his career last month when he became the first foreign player to reach 500 Premier League appearances. With 502 games to his name, he is ninth on the League’s all-time appearance list.

Asked whether he would prefer to remain in England or if he would consider playing in the Australian A‑League, Schwarzer said he was keeping all his options open.

“Nothing has been ruled out but, to be fair, I’ve not even considered anything yet because it has all been just about playing the last couple of games of the season and doing my best for Fulham,” he said. “If I can do that, one way or the other something will come of it.”

With the World Cup in Brazil next year, Schwarzer is determined to play on at club level so he can add to his 105 caps.

Schwarzer said: “I want to help Australia qualify for the World Cup and then look forward to hopefully a good season and then hopefully go to a World Cup. That’s the plan.”

His immediate focus, though, is on helping Fulham get the points to keep them in the Premier League.

Five losses in their past six games means Fulham can still be relegated but a win — or possibly a draw — against a Liverpool side with little to play for on Sunday will preserve the club’s top-flight status.

“It has been a little disappointing with how we’ve gone over the last few games and we need to make sure we pick up something at the very least and make sure we’re mathematically safe,” said Schwarzer.