DREAM TEAM

BALINT BAJNER – The Notts County striker chooses his favourite XI, made up from players he has played with in his football career.

GOALKEEPERI

Roy Carroll – Notts County He’s an amazing goalkeeper and even though I’ve not been at Notts Country very long, I can say he’s the best I’ve ever worked with. He’s very experienced, very vocal from the back and an unbelievable shot-stopper.

RIGHT BACKI

Luke Chambers – Ipswich Luke was my captain at Ipswich and is a player who gives absolutely everything on the pitch for his teammates – you certainly don’t want to get on the wrong side of him! He gives 100 per cent every game and drives everyone else to reach the same levels.

CENTRE BACKI

Mats Hummels – Borussia Dortmund Mats is one of the best defenders in the world and is a World Cup winner, but if he wanted to he could be a striker – you should see him on the training pitch!

CENTRE BACKI

Christophe Berra – Ipswich The fans love Christophe. He is another great defender, and he’s played at the highest level in England in the Premier League and internationally with Scotland, too. He is so strong, I never liked going up against him in training.

LEFT BACKI

Tyrone Mings – Ipswich Tyrone is the perfect modern full-back. He has a lot of power, he is big and strong but he is also fast and has a lot of technique. He can go up and down the wing all game.

RIGHTI MIDFIELDI

Marco Reus – Borussia Dortmund Reus is the best player in the Bundesliga at the moment. The only problem with Marco is injuries. If he stays clear of them, he can be even better. Playing alongside him certainly made me a better player.

CENTRALI MIDFIELDI

Hayden Mullins – Notts County He’s the same kind of character as Luke Chambers. He gives everything on the pitch. He’s reaching the final part of his career now – he’ll probably hunt me down for saying that – but he can make unbelievable passes into the channels for the strikers.

CENTRALI MIDFIELDI

Alan Smith – Notts County I remember him when he was playing for Manchester United and Newcastle, and he’s still a quality player in the same way he was then. He still has that bit of aggression as well, but in a good way!

LEFT MIDFIELDI

Mario Gotze – Bayern Munich This guy is the next big thing in football – the next Lionel Messi. He has enough talent and even if he is not scoring as much for Bayern Munich at the moment, he is still very young. When I was at Dortmund I just thought, ‘oh my God, he is unbelievable’. I don’t think you can stop him.

STRIKERI

Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich His record speaks for itself. He scores goals wherever he goes and I learned an awful lot by watching him while I was at Dortmund. I got my only chance in the side when he got a red card so maybe I owe him for that!

STRIKERI

Daryl Murphy – Ipswich It’s very hard for me to choose between Ipswich duo Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick. Both of them are good enough to play in the Premier League. I picked Murphy because he’s scored more goals this season and he hardly ever fails to hit the target. But McGoldrick is a similar kind of player to Lewandowski – and, in some ways, even better. I’m not lying!