Under the microscope
CAN YOU RUN UP THE STAIRS?
ABSOLUTELY. My wife, Sarah, 47, and I take our labradoodle, Bella, for 15km walks two or three times a week. I’m having to tone it down a little, as I had a knee replacement in December.
HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOU?
I’VE had dozens of tests because of doing punditry in different stadiums. I’ve not had Covid, nor has Sarah or our daughters [Lena, 11; Stephanie, nine; and Paige, six].
GET YOUR FIVE A DAY?
PROBABLY. My wife makes me soups packed with vegetables.
ANY VICES?
I LOVE chocolate and crisps, and I like a couple of pints. I used to like gambling but stopped nine years ago: things hit rock bottom in 2011 when Sarah threatened to leave. I still attend Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
WORST ILLNESS?
IN 2006, when I was playing for West Brom, I found a small lump in one of my testicles but it took me four years to get it checked. It was a tumour and the cancer had spread to my lungs and brain. I had chemo, radiotherapy, an operation on each of my lungs and my brain and testicle. I went from 17st to 11st and very nearly died.
HAD ANYTHING REMOVED?
MY TESTICLE. They asked if I wanted a prosthetic one but I said I was happy to live with the one.
COPE WELL WITH PAIN?
I DON’T care how tough you are, anyone who tells you they like pain is lying. My worst was after one of my lung operations. I was on a morphine drip but the pain was still horrific.
EVER DIETED?
YES. My weight has yo-yoed all my life. I am 6ft 2in and during my playing career it veered between 14st 5lb and 15st 5lb. I’m now about 16st 5lb. Having come through a cancer battle, I don’t feel I need to lose weight.
EVER HAVE PLASTIC SURGERY?
PROBABLY not. I had an accident two years ago when the golf buggy I was in crashed into a tree and I had 48 stitches across my head. I already had a massive scar across the back of my head, from having my brain tumour removed, but I’m not bothered about plastic surgery. I’m not that vain.
EVER BEEN DEPRESSED?
I’VE never had professional help but, yes, I’ve been depressed. I’ve been through a divorce [his first marriage ended in 2006] and I gambled a lot.
HANGOVER CURE?
WATER, a bacon sandwich, relax on the settee and put on Loose Women.
WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE?
NOTHING. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m out.
ANY PHOBIAS?
SLEEPING in the pitch black. To this day, I have to have the landing light on. n John works with KP nuts to help raise awareness of testicular cancer.