LONDON -- Guus Hiddink has urged John Terry to extend his playing career for as long as possible and has backed the Chelsea captain to handle the added rigours of international football should he choose to make himself available for England again.
Earlier this week Roy Hodgson revealed he had enjoyed a "long chat" with Terry when it was suggested that the 35-year-old might be the ideal solution to England's left-sided centre-back problem, fuelling speculation of a potential return in time for Euro 2016.
Hiddink believes the conversation between the two men has been "overvalued" in the media, but insists Terry's body is capable of playing more football and says the Chelsea captain owes it to himself to postpone a transition into coaching for as long as he can -- even if he is not offered an extension to his current contract, which expires this summer.
"First of all if you love the game -- and he loves the game -- play as long as possible," Hiddink said of Terry. "Being a manager is OK but it's more or less a substitute for being a player.
"Being a player is the most beautiful thing you can experience if you love the game. So play as long as possible, until they come and say, 'Grandfather, please leave the pitch now.'
"It depends on the mental approach to the game as well as the physical [side]. Normally an athlete is at his peak around 27, 28. After that you can go on but some players are out when they are 31, 32, because the speed is decreasing.
"Some players can go on until 34, 35 because it's also to do with the tactical vision. When you are going down a bit physically if you can cover that up with your vision, you can extend your playing a bit more."
Asked if Terry could stay fresher for Chelsea by not returning for England, Hiddink replied: "The subject of John and the national team is not mine, but one can play as long as one is fit, and when he is fit he can play more games.
"If there is not a fixed couple in central defence [for England] then you will always have these discussions.
"That's why managers hope that young players -- who are available now in England -- develop tactically and strategically as soon as possible, to have a fixed defence and at least four candidates who have proven they can do it.
"As long as there are some doubts then you will have this discussion of whether you can go back to the old situation [involving Terry]."