SHAUN UDAL wants to play for Hampshire for five more years.

Off-spinner Udal is out of contract at the end of this season along with Derek Kenway, Lawrie Prittipaul and James Hamblin.

But he has already been told that he will be offered a new contract later this month.

And Udal, whose wife Emma gave birth to son Jack a week before he took his 1,000th wicket for Hampshire against Northants over a week ago, wants to continue until he's 40.

He said: "I'll sit down with the club in the next few days and see what they have got to offer, but I've been told that I'm getting a contract and I'm sure I'll accept it.

"Luckily I'm one of these people that is young at heart.

"I'd love to play another four or five years if the body allows me.

"If I'm still enjoying it and doing myself justice I'll carry on as long as I'm allowed."

But before undergoing a shoulder opertaion last September Udal's career was in doubt.

After bowling through the pain barrier in taking 42 championship wickets at 32.14, he went under the knife.

He added: "It was my bowling shoulder and at 34 you think could it be the end of the road. Thankfully it wasn't.

"The shoulder operation was a bit of a problem but Paddy Farhart assured me that it would be fine by January-February time and it was.

"I did a lot of work on it before Christmas. Warney has also had a major shoulder op and said that my rehab was key, so I paid particular attention to that and, touch wood, it's all paid off.

"As soon as I started to bowl in March it came back 120 per cent.

"To actually bowl now pain free makes a big difference.

"You're going to struggle if you're in pain every time you let go of the ball - and my bowling figures reflected that I had a pretty average year last year

"I soldiered on until the end of the season and had the op the day after the season finished."

A year on and Udal - who has taken 30 wickets at a much improved 22.36 average in the championship this season - and the rest of his Hampshire teammates are hoping to celebrate promotion in the championship at Leicestershire this week.

That was after they had secured a top three finish in the National League, for the first time in 12 years, on Bank Holiday Monday.

He added: "We could achieve all our goals by the end of the week, we've made massive strides but it's important we keep it all in perspective.

"We still haven't won anything, which has been disappointing."

Hampshire are unlikely to announce who will be released at the end of the season for another two weeks.

Director of cricket Tim Tremlett said: "We'll be letting people know around about the time of the Derbyshire game."