It isn't just for his amazing longevity in football that David Weir is renowned. The Rangers centre-back, who is almost guaranteed to earn his 63rd Scotland cap against Norway in the World Cup qualifier on Saturday, always seems to have done his own thing and been set apart from the crowd.

How many other British footballers, aged 18 and with clubs chapping at their door to offer a contract, have chosen instead to go off to the United States to study for an academic degree while playing college football? It is an amazing 20 years ago now since Weir left Falkirk, his home town, to go to Evansville University in Indiana, which meant his professional football career didn't really get started until he was 22.

The rest of the story has become a minor epic in quiet accomplishment and success. With Falkirk, Heart of Midlothian, Everton and now Rangers, Weir has remained both a gifted centre-back and a solid citizen, the type you would very happily have living over your garden fence. And at 38 years and five months old, he is still a regular with one of Britain's biggest clubs.

On a point of quiet principle he “walked out on Scotland” - a phrase Weir loathes - during the Berti Vogts era, and most people, including the defender himself, believed that the saga would mark the end of his international career. Yet it is three years since Walter Smith coaxed him back into a Scotland shirt and, from what he said yesterday, Weir still can't see the finishing line.

Asked if playing until he was 40 - a full 18 months away - and getting to the 2010 World Cup was still a possibility, the defender remained defiant. “I don't see why not,” he said. “I really don't see why I should start putting a ceiling on things, because I love playing - 2010 would be a great target, and I would love that, but why put barriers up or have an end-point?”

The defender is well used by now to having to defend his dotage but it is not something that bothers him. There have been a number of defenders, such as Morten Olsen, of Denmark, or Paolo Maldini, of Italy, who have played on until 40, and Weir appears intent on doing the same.

“I never expected to still be involved, but I always wanted to be,” he said. “I have always said I will play as long as I can and I'll make myself available for as long as I can. As long as someone keeps picking me, I'll keep turning up. I'm enjoying it, even if people keep telling me how old I am and how I don't have long left. I just play it as I see it, taking things week by week, rather than thinking about next season. The manager has said to me there is no point bringing me in if I am not going to play and I understand that. I have no problem with that. I want to play but you can't expect to always be a first choice, that's not how the game works.

“I feel great. I find it difficult to compare to last season because I think you always kid yourself that you feel great, regardless of how many games you have played and how you feel. I feel fine, but I would have said that at the end of last season as well.”

He may well come up against the towering John Carew at Hampden Park, and there is something about the wisdom harvested over the years by Weir which makes him a compelling witness to listen to.

“Carew has done fantastically well and scored a lot of goals - his sheer presence causes problems but he is also a very good football player,” he said. “You have to play him as you see it, but there are certain balls you are just not going to be able to win. There are certain players that you can't outjump, so if you can't win the first ball, you have to try to win the second one.

“I think you learn. When you are young, you want to fight everybody and outjump everybody, whereas when you get older you realise that it isn't always the best option. I still get nervous - if you didn't have nerves about representing your country, there would be something wrong. I wouldn't say that has changed for me in the last ten years.”

The Rangers defender always seems to rise imperiously above the rabble. There had been talk yesterday of Weir being miffed at losing out on the Scotland captaincy to Darren Fletcher on Saturday, but a few sentences from him yesterday put the potential row firmly back on the shelf.

“I'm neither surprised nor disappointed about that,” Weir said. “I think Darren will be a great captain and could be the captain for many years to come. He has done it in the past and done it well, so I genuinely have no problem with it. I've enjoyed being captain of my country - it is probably the highest honour you get - so don't get me wrong, I would love it to be me. But I have absolutely no problem with it being Darren, and am delighted for him.”

There may, too, be an omen in Weir's presence on Saturday, given events ten years ago at France '98 when Scotland faced Norway. Weir was a substitute that evening but got on and eventually set up the equalising goal for Scotland.

“I was a substitute against Norway, but Colin Calderwood got injured and Craig Brown told me and Matt Elliot to go and warm up,” Weir recalled. “I managed to get the nod, got on and I was delighted to play in a World Cup. I also played the pass to Craig Burley for his goal against Norway, so that was nice, it's something I'll always remember.”