Welsh footballers Nia Jones and Jess Fishlock have hit out at fans who write off players once they near 30.

Jones, 28, who also represents Wales in netball, shared her thoughts on Twitter, saying: "Can we officially stop saying footballers (or any athlete) are pretty much done once they’re past their late twenties now please? Prem Player of the Year: Henderson (30) Prem Top Goalscorer: Vardy (33).

“Not to mention the [goats] Ronaldo (35) and Messi (33)."

To which Fishlock, 33, responded: “Mate ... not even in your prime when you hit 30 now. 30 is the beginning of your prime. Need to change the narrative”

Jones added: “All people do in your twenties is wish for you to have ‘more experience’... hit 30 and it’s countdown to retirement. You’ll still be playing at 45 tbf”

Fishlock then concluded that sport isn’t just physical, it’s mental as well.

She wrote: “It’s sooooooooooooo True. So easy to dismiss athletes due to age, think physically it’s too much and it’s not true ... People Also forget that sports is often played with your brain - that doesn’t fade at 30.”

Fishlock has just returned to football after being sidelined due to an anterior ligament injury. 

She plays in the National Women’s Soccer League and she returned to action with her club OL Reign for the league’s Challenge Cup this month.

The club reached the quarter-finals whee they were knocked out by Chicago Red Stars on penalties.