WE NEVER SAW THE BEST OF HIM:
“I never have any regrets on anything, but it’s unfortunate. I don’t think anyone ever saw the best of me when I was here.
“But I could say that ever since my injury (a shocking double leg break while playing for Manchester United at Liverpool in 2006), that’s always been the case.
“I can sort of understand the criticism that comes my way, but it never bothers me because I’m my own biggest critic.
“You know deep down that to get back to those heights before my injury is going to be impossible.
“You take it as it comes and you make sure you enjoy it. You need to be as committed and enjoy it in other ways as much as you can.
“Even towards the end, when I wasn’t playing and I wasn’t in the (Newcastle) squad I was in with the manager all the time. Because you are part of a team, regardless of what job you’re in.”
ON RELEGATION:
“The club needed relegation to shake it out of its complacency. Something had to happen.
“I’m proud of the role I played in that, in restoring some of the pride to the football club. We had a point to prove.
“I remember going over to Ireland (in the summer of 2009) and that was a fantastic trip. You could tell something special was happening among the players, and that camaraderie was a major part of it.
“As people, as individuals, as a collective we had to prove that what we had done, we wanted to put right. You see the measure of a man in the reaction to disappointment. Good people react well to adversity.”
HIS ATTITUDE:
“Some people see you play and have a perception of what you’re like. Then they actually meet you and they’re like, ‘Are you sure you’re the same person?’
“It is actually quite nice because someone has to be totally different when you go to work. You’re totally different at work from how you are in normal life and football is no different.
“People can think he’s this or that, which happens to a lot of footballers.
"There’s this clichéd lifestyle and people thinking you only play football because it pays you a good wage.
"But I started playing football for £42.50 a week, and so did most of the lads. You’re just a normal kid wanting to do well for yourself and there’s no harm in that. I think sometimes when you do meet people, they do surprise you.
“I hope that’s the case with me. But I don’t really want to go around shouting about what I do (off the pitch). When you do keep yourself away from the media or whatever, they just assume you’re the same as the rest or worse.
“It is strange sometimes, but as long as you’re true to what you believe ...”
MK DONS:
“When you come away from that stadium you’re living in the same normal world as everyone else.
“Since I’ve gone to MK (on loan) I’ve realised that even more. The lads playing at that level, football is part of their life, not their whole life.
"It gives you an insight into what life without football would have been like – mortgages, kids, putting food on the table.
“A lot of people struggle when football finishes and you’re out of the spotlight.
"They’re used to being so and so who plays for this team, but can you actually speak to someone as a normal man?”