AN UPSET stomach might have prevented Sylvain Distin achieving a personal landmark on Sunday – but the Frenchman remains more settled than ever.
The 36-year-old had to be withdrawn from the starting line-up at Old Trafford during the warm-up after falling ill with a virus, a setback which denied him the chance to become the first foreign outfield player to make 400 Premier League appearances.
But even if he had been able to face the Red Devils, the laid-back veteran would have simply taken the memorable occasion in his stride.
He said: “I’m not there yet so I’m not pleased. But if it happens then it’s obviously something pretty amazing.
“I don’t count games to be fair so you could say to me 200, 300, 500 and I would just have said ‘yes’. But overall it’s not just the quantity of games, it’s the quality as well.
“I just take games one after each other and enjoy my time, but they are the kind of records that you can only be pleased about.
“I’ve been here (in the UK) for a long time and I enjoy it here. Do I feel English? No. Do I feel comfortable? Yes.”
Distin’s first taste of league football on these shores came in September 2001 with Newcastle United – coincidentally against Manchester United.
