I'm like everyone else: I want to play every game, but it's not possible.

Nobody expects a footballer to have any kind of an IQ, which is a bit of an unfair stereotype.

My dad being a player. I was never that quick as a kid, so I had to get quicker. I trained hard. I was never that player who could roll out and relax, like Michael [ Owen] or Stevie [ Gerrard], who were natural.

My dad shaped the footballing side of me, and Mum shaped me as a person. I've always been very close to her - we've only ever had one argument, and that was over something stupid when I was 13.

Reading and writing is so important, and it's something I am really keen to promote. It's something that can be a bit lost these days with so much else going on.

If players are performing for you, their age shouldn't really matter, especially because the older players can bring their experience to the table.

I think I work harder on the pitch, I cover more ground and my passing is more accurate.