Darren Bent

“Son is an amazing player. Everything about him, the way he plays the game, he's such a threat and he can finish with his left and right feet.”

“You get the best out of me when you back me.”

“It's unfair to judge Zaha on his time at Manchester United because he was young.”

“It's probably instinct - know where the ball's going to drop and get there faster than the opposition. I was an Arsenal fan and Ian Wright was my hero but Michael Owen was probably the best at that instinct.”

“I like to collect trainers.”

“I have always said to myself, if you play well and do your best for Sunderland, then there is a chance you can go to the biggest tournament in the world.”

“When you meet up with England, you can feel tense and think to yourself: 'Where's that goal going to come from?'”

“No-one likes to sit on the bench.”

“I got myself back out there at Brighton, then Derby came in and it was the right move.”

“I don't play golf, I like to collect trainers, that's just my hobby.”

“I don't think anybody likes to read people writing horrible stuff about you.”

“I had two hard seasons at Tottenham, and when it's going badly, when you're not getting games, when people are criticising you, you do get depressed; you get down.”

“I guess sometimes things just fit and other times they don't.”

“It was really difficult at Villa because we weren't allowed to play in any matches, a few of us were kind of alienated to train with the kids.”

“I never thought in a million years I'd be playing football against a rockstar.”

“I've always said to young people who ask me about playing in the Premier League that, whatever your ambitions in life, you have to aim to play on the highest stage against the best teams. If it's money or the best cars you're after, you have to be playing at the very top first, and that's the Premier League.”

“Firmino, we know he doesn't score that many goals, but he's the glue, he links it all together. His hold-up play is arguably one of the best in the league. He brings players in, holds on to the ball, he's fantastic.”

“When you're doing well in the Premier League there is nothing better.”

“At Villa you couldn't have conversations with Paul Lambert, a lot of the other guys felt the same. You'd go into his office and be twiddling your thumbs, whereas with someone like Steve McClaren you can have a rapport and talk to him.”

“Listen, confidence is massive in a striker.”