There is another side to me which people don't often see, but it's very hard for me to show that. When I do interviews, I'm talking to people I don't know and when you speak to a stranger you don't open up, do you? In my position, people are always looking for something to say about me. And anything I do say, given half-a-chance they'll turn it round into something spectacular so I've got to be very careful. That's why it's only my friends and family who know the real me. Now my wife, Lainya, she could tell you a few stories.

I don't know what I'd have become if I hadn't been a footballer; I wrote down 'dustbin man' on a careers questionnaire at school till my dad made me change it to 'joiner'.

I have never wanted to go abroad before but you can never say never in football.

I made no secret of the fact I'd love to stay in football and to do that, you need badges. I'm starting them and that's the next step for me - to continue this next season.

Lampard picks his head up and knocks it out to the wing.

I want to be around when Newcastle win a trophy because I want to see this place lift off. It will be one hell of a party for a long time.

If you ask footballers to pick out the player they most admire, so many of them will pick Paul Scholes.