Quotes

During my career I've come back to clubs after the summer break to see one of my team-mates not really at it because he's been denied a move to a bigger club for whatever reason, and you can see in his body language that he doesn't want to be there and that kind of thing is massively disruptive and negative.

Players build up friendships with each other, so when a team-mate wants out, part of you understands that he is torn and you know you can't begrudge him a move. But the other part of you wants him to stay because you want to win games.

A player's mind, body and soul have to be right to get the best out of them, and if a player no longer wants to be at a club then the club should try and get the best deal they can and let the player move on.

More than anything I prefer the ball on the floor. I think I play my best football on the floor. There is a delicacy to this big giant.

Everyone has got a perception of what a footballer is and, because I am a certain size, that I can only play one way - as a battering ram.

Sometimes it is tough and frustrating to sit on the bench.

I am not a small guy - I will be the first to say it.

My size works against me as well, as some players I would just touch and they would fall over to get a free kick.

A footballer who says they don't want to start games is in the wrong job.

People said: 'You're too big to play football,' but I kept playing and it just happened that people have caught on to me and taken to me. The nicest thing I get from it is that I can be myself and people seem to like it.

Football was my saving grace so I want to let people know that you can achieve whatever you want. People like to concentrate on what you can't do, so let's preach what you can. Why would I want to talk about not being quick when I'm strong? That's what I want to get across.

It may sound cliched, but it just shows that when you don't let people put you in a box then anything can happen.

Kids are a product of their environment.

I was asked to go in a banana suit once or eat as many doughnuts as possible. I would not do those things. I don't eat doughnuts so why would I eat 20.

If you have a love for something, you persevere.

Look, nobody can begrudge Steven Gerrard doing what he wants to do. He has just been a legend.

I like being the biggest on the pitch, I don't want to look at the other guys and think his arms are bigger than mine.

I'd always been one of the strongest players in the game, but officially in 'Fifa 14' I was the strongest in the world. If they say so, I must be. I like that.

I've always been big, my brothers are my size, we come from good stock.

People have tried to push me into other sports, but it's always been football.

I was raised on an estate in an inner city school where people had a go about my size, people saying I am too big to play football - which still happens today - and I used that to inspire me.

With hard work comes rewards and I want to make youngsters who could have gone left but went right find the right path.

As long as I am feeling good I will play football. As long as I am feeling fit, strong and being affective on and off the pitch, I will play the game I love.

I'm aware that there are a lot of guys playing at amateur level with a build like mine and I say stick at it, use what you've got to make an impact on the game.

Don't try to kid yourself that your game is about pace if it isn't. If you're a big guy like me you need to look at how similarly built players use that physical presence to influence a game. Accept that your build may have some limitations - but plenty of plus points too.