STEVE Borthwick has backed Chris Ashton to continue playing top-level rugby for years to come.
Ashton signed for Leicester on a short-term deal in February, two months after leaving Worcester, and has scored three tries in five appearances since his arrival at Welford Road.
The second of his fivepointers against Exeter in Leicester's last Premiership outing saw him draw level with Tom Varndell at the top of the Premiership's all-time try-scoring charts with 92 career tries.
Given Borthwick has backed him to continue playing for “several more seasons”, the magic century could be within his grasp.
“Right now, I just hope he scores the next one as soon as he possibly can, then the next one,” said Leicester's DoR, right.
“The guy looks in phenomenal shape, that competitive desire is there, he really wants to win and he trains exceptionally hard. That spreads to the people around you, it drives standards higher, because then everyone starts competing. It was the exact same when I played alongside him many years ago.
“I don't see any reason why he couldn't be playing for several more seasons.”
Ashton, who has just turned 35, recently admitted he would “love to stay” at Tigers beyond the end of the season and that it was “an environment that suited him.”
But former Saracens team-mate Borthwick refused to be drawn on whether that would be the case.
“When we're in a position to talk about next season and player comings and goings, we'll talk about it but that's not now,” he said. Ashton's infectious enthusiasm and will to win has spread to the rest of the squad and centre Dan Kelly has nothing but praise for the former England flyer, who is the European Cup's most prolific finisher with 40 tries to his name.
“He's just brilliant, he knows how to score tries,” said Kelly.
“It's ridiculous, he has got a nose for getting over the line and he's a very good bloke. He's so vocal, you know when he wants the ball and that's definitely something I want from my wingers.”
