The 40-year-old hit a second-half hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Peterborough as Rovers ended their first season back in League One on a high.

After a goalless first half, Sharp opened the scoring in the 54th minute. He struck again in the 73rd minute before Harry Leonard’s strike halved the deficit.

But Sharp fittingly had the final say as he hammered home his hat-trick goal to take his career tally to 299. He thought he had reached 300, only for an offside flag to deny him a fourth of the afternoon.

“Billy knew he needed four goals today to hit the 300 and I spoke to him during the week about it,” McCann said.

“I thought he was going to do it and I thought every time he went forward today he was going to score. He’s unreal, honestly.

“Whatever words I use, it isn’t going to be enough to speak about Billy.

“It’s absolute testament to him and his team-mates to try and find him those opportunities and chances today. He was clinical with every one. Even the one where he was offside, he was clinical.”

On the effort that was ruled out, McCann added: “It was tight. I’m gutted that he’s not going to be here next year because he’s such a top, top pro and a player. But whatever Billy does, I’m sure he will do it to the best
of his ability like he’s done his whole career.”

This result saw Rovers end the season in 14th place on 60 points, four places and seven points better off than their opponents.

Peterborough manager Luke Williams said: “I felt the first half we were really competitive and were trying to work hard to score the first goal and keep them out.

“We looked exhausted in the second half and very flat and after Tuesday night (a draw against Mansfield that secured survival) it was maybe too much.

“It was a great turnout and a brilliant atmosphere. I thought the first half was two good teams going at each other. But we let the party down really.”

On Sharp, he added: “I’ve managed teams as an opponent of Billy Sharp for a very long time and he’s a special player. That’s obvious.

“He’s a top, top player and of that there’s no doubt. Once one or two mistakes came in we started to lose the thread and they capitalised.”