STEPHEN Warnock is approaching the final straight of his marathon.

But don’t expect any flagging before he reaches the line.

The 36-year-old’s announcement last week that he would be retiring at the end of the season caught plenty on the hop.

City boss Simon Grayson was one of those and admitted Warnock’s confirmation call after the Shrewsbury game “came out of the blue”.

But Grayson will have had no qualms in retaining the former England international in his back four against Portsmouth.

And another solid display from the veteran defender proceeded to back up what his manager already knew.

Grayson said: “Stephen trains every day like it’s his last session, like it’s a match-day situation. He is a fantastic professional to work with.

“He can look back on his career with immense pride at what he’s achieved in the game. He’s played for some of the biggest clubs and he’s a good role model for some of the younger kids to look up to.”

Warnock will retire just short of 650 games with ten different clubs – a lengthy career that has included the Premier League, European competition and World Cup involvement.

But it will be top and tailed in the claret and amber of City.

Nicky Law gave him his senior debut at Walsall in September 2002, while on loan from Liverpool, and he will sign off with the Bantams in the remaining weeks of the current campaign.

Warnock still looks fit as a fiddle as he prepares to bow out and step up the national media work he is currently doing with the BBC.

Grayson added: “Every player, when they get to a certain age, knows their body and when it’s the right time to call it a day. I certainly did when I was playing and Stephen said the same thing when he phoned to tell me that he had made his decision.

“Hopefully he’ll be part of the team over the rest of the games and when he hangs up his boots, he has a successful career in whatever road he goes down.

“It’s a very difficult day when it comes along.

“You’re used to every day getting up and going training and having that banter with your team-mates.

“Then suddenly you go from that to maybe having nothing to get up for, just being at home with the missus and having to do all the house work and stuff like that.

“But I think he’s been planning this for quite a while now.”

Warnock heads for Rochdale tomorrow with no intention of seeing his final weeks out quietly.

He said: “The goal now has got to be to win every game. The play-off positions look a big ask but while there’s still a chance, we’ve got to keep believing.”