Steve Howey

Ex-Newcastle United, Manchester City and England

PAVEL SRNICEK

PAV would drop the odd clanger but he was strong and commanding. He’d keep a ball out of the top corner and you’d think: “How on earth?”

RICHARD DUNNE

HE was a tank. Very underrated but powerful and quick. He could play full-back and was a fantastic centre-half, too.

PHILIPPE ALBERT

IF I wanted a defender next to me I’d pick Tony Adams or Darren Peacock but for allround ability, it has to be Philippe – though there’d be times when you’d find him standing next to Alan Shearer!

STEVE HOWEY

I WAS quite good at reading the game. I wasn’t the quickest, but I wasn’t slow. In possession, I was decent on the ball.

SYLVAIN DISTIN

AN amazing athlete – he was still playing at 38. He could make a mistake but was so quick he’d get himself out of jail.

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS

A TINY little thing but great skill, great pace and very tricky. Should have scored more but he gave full-backs nightmares.

EYAL BERKOVIC

I’VE picked two similar players in central midfield. Neither would win a 50-50 but they could nick the ball.

ALI BENARBIA

YOU could give either of them the ball in any situation. They were so comfortable in tiny spaces. They never panicked.

DAVID GINOLA

THERE could only be one left winger! Dave was quick, strong and could hit it with both feet. He’d cut inside and shoot, go outside and cross.

PETER BEARDSLEY

SIMPLY the best player I ever played with. He had everything. He had a sixth sense of knowing where teammates were. He also tracked back and worked his socks off.

ALAN SHEARER

HIS scoring record speaks for itself but he was brave and had a nasty streak strikers need. Al was a dream for us defenders as the ball never bounced off him. His nickname was Shocks – ironic, as it was never a shock when he scored.