Veteran striker Billy Sharp so grateful as he enjoys one last big FA Cup runout with Diamonds

The 40-year-old came out of retirement to play as centre forward for Diamonds in their 4-0 Emirates FA Cup first round defeat at Burton Albion on Saturday.

Sharp answered an SOS from the club after regular striker James Clifton was ruled out of the trip to the Pirelli Stadium through suspension.

The former Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Doncaster Rovers man played the full 90 minutes against Diamonds' Sky Bet League One hosts, and had been dreaming of scoring a 300th senior career goal.

But Sharp ended the match stuck on 299 as, despite a strong performance and a couple of chances, he couldn't find the target as Diamonds were ultimately outclassed by a strong Brewers side, who scored twice in each half to seal the win.

But it was a day that Sharp enjoyed, as he relished the opportunity to get the boots on for a big FA Cup clash for one last time.

"You have to give credit to Burton, they were professional about what they did, they put a strong team out and they wore us down a little bit in the first half," Sharp told @AFCRD.

"We knew they were going to have possession of the ball, and I think the second goal kills us a little bit.

"If we go in at half-time 1-0 down then it still gives us a lot of belief to try and get something out of the game.

"We thought the ball went out for the first one, and was maybe offside as well, so there were a couple of little things that didn't quite go for us.

"But the lads can be proud of getting this far and to give this to the fans, as it was a great day out for them.

"Some of the lads have never played in the first round proper, so it is a proud day for them as well.

"We might not have got the result, I might not have got the goal, but I have really enjoyed the week."

Sharp was also quick to thank Diamonds chairman Rob Usher, vice-chair Alex Raspin and manager Elliot Sandy for giving him the chance to get on the grass again.

"I have to thank Rob, Alex, Elliot and all the lads because I am so grateful for the opportunity to experience another game in the FA Cup," said Sharp, who made his senior debut for the original Rushden & Diamonds as a teenager in 2005.

"I am quite proud to finish the game and play 90 minutes as a 40-year-old, and I had the chance at the end there and I should have hit the target.

"When I picked up the ball my calves were screaming at me, and what I needed to do was shift if one more to get a better angle, but my calves wouldn't allow me to do that!

"But I have thoroughly enjoyed it, I have met a lot of good people, and with Cliffy not being able to play I wanted to help the club out.

"They were the ones who gave me the opportunity when I was 17 or 18, and it has been a great day for the club.

Sharp trained with the Diamonds squad twice last week ahead of he Burton clash, and when asked if he could yet play for the club again in the future, he didn't totally rule it out.

"I want to give something back to the club, so we'll see," he said.

"I enjoyed it on Saturday, I enjoyed it on Tuesday night and Thursday night at training, and they are proper lads.

"There has been a few murmurs of 'why is he playing? It's not right, blah, blah', but if James Clifton wasn't suspended I wouldn't have played.

"I just felt it was right, I am grateful for the opportunity, and I thank the club for that."