Getting to know...

Who do you sit next to most when travelling to away games?

"I sit next to Brennan Johnson. Obviously I had that injury and my first away game back was at Everton recently, so when I got on the coach there had been a switch around with the seats but I reclaimed my seat next to Brennan. We’ve got a lot of common interests."

Who do you turn to when you're feeling down?

"My partner Kennedy and my parents. It depends what I’m down about though – if it’s football-related then it would be my dad, if general life stuff then my partner and anything in between would be my mum!"

Who is the most skilful in the team?

"In terms of actual skills, tricks and quick feet I’d probably say Manor Solomon, one of the sharpest players I’ve ever seen."

Who would you most like to meet?

"I would have said Becks (David Beckham) before but I got to meet him so now I would say Adele, she’s got a great voice and looks like she’s good fun too."

Where did you make your professional debut?

"It was a home game for Coventry City but at Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium when we were ground-sharing with them. It was a bit of a weird one, it was a home game in front of about 500 people because the fans were boycotting our games due to the issues with the owners, it was certainly a strange experience!"

Where in the world would you most like to visit?

"Maybe the Maldives, I’ve never been and it always looks like a beautiful and very relaxed place to visit."

Where do you like to visit in London?

"I love to go right into the centre, Mayfair and Soho, areas like that - bits of shopping, street food, little markets - I love all that. There are so many beautiful places in London."

Where do you keep your medals/shirts/memorabilia/hat-trick balls?

"A lot of shirts I’ve swapped with big names I’ve played against are framed and on the walls, players like Eden Hazard, Cristian Ronaldo and Erling Haaland, as well as my own shirts that have meant something to me from finals and key games. Most of my stuff is dotted around the house."

How do you spend any free time that you get?

"These days my time is mainly taken up by my children. I love doing the basics with them, just like taking my boy to nursery, the little things that I can’t always do because of football. Snooker is my hobby at the minute, I’ve just got a new table at home so I’m playing quite a lot these days, got the bug for it. So kids, snooker and darts, to sum up!"

How many times have you played for your country’s senior side?

"I’ve played five times for England and it’s always a proud moment. I had a big gap between my first and second caps, but hopefully many more to come now."

How has becoming a father changed you?

"It maybe hasn’t changed me as a person in terms of the way I am but it does change your life for the better, by having that responsibility. You are no longer the main focus anymore, you can’t be if you want to be a good dad. There’s no feeling that can replicate seeing your children smile when they see you, having a good time with them, making them laugh."

How would you title this chapter in your life?

"I would call this part of my career ‘The beginning of something special’ - and I really do feel that."

What frustrates you the most?

"Playing poorly in a game. I could say losing but sometimes you can win, and be happy that you’ve won, but you’ve still played poorly and it will frustrate and annoy me that I haven’t played to the level that I know I can. I try not to have that very often!"

What is your favourite TV series of all-time?

"I loved Line of Duty, Happy Valley would be up there and 24 was great as well, I watched every episode of that. I’ll go with those three."

What was your first position in football?

"I think I was a striker initially, I was pretty good technically as a kid and when you’re young, they tend to put the best player up front, then I worked my way back into midfield."

What was your initiation song at Spurs?

"It was 'I’m Yours’ by Jason Mraz. I butchered it rather than smashed it but the effort was there!"

When did you last cook and what was it?

"About three months ago, purely because my partner went to America and I was left to fend for myself, so I had to cook! I did a nice Cajun chicken breast and potatoes, something quite basic."

When did you last visit your home town?

"A few weeks ago I went back to Coventry. I like to go back when I can to take my children to see my grandparents as they are in homes in Coventry now and it makes their week whenever I go back to see them."

When does your alarm go off in the morning?

"At 10 past eight, if my kids don’t wake me up before that!"

When was the last time you cried?

"What a question that is! I find myself now, as I’ve got older and being a father, crying more than I ever used to. I never used to at all but when you get older you get a bit more emotional about things - maybe something you’ll see online about a sad story, someone’s journey with a bit of sad music and I find myself going at that these days!"