I saw Ugo a month ago, he was as fit and strong as ever ...the football world will be a lesser place without him

IT WAS such a shock and terribly, terribly sad to hear the awful news about Ugo Ehiogu. I knew him from the days we were kids, breaking through into the England team together, on that infamous tour of China and Hong Kong just before Euro ’96. Ugo made his international debut coming on as a sub in the game against China and I came on a few minutes before him. He would also have been there on the “dentist’s chair” night out, though my memory is a bit blurred about that evening, as I’m sure you can imagine! I saw Ugo only a month ago. I was at St George’s Park, watching England U19s beat Norway in March, and when I saw him after the game, we had a good, long chat, catching up. He looked so healthy, so strong, as always and it was a massive shock to hear he had collapsed. My thoughts go out to his family because I know what a decent, lovely man he was. We did our coaching licence together on the same course and the thing that sticks in my mind was that he joined in every session. He looked as fit and strong as ever.

I used to joke with him how much I loved playing against him and Villa because I always seemed to score.

I remember in 1996 I scored a 30-yarder at Villa Park in January, then a couple of months later two more at the Anfield return. To cap it all, three weeks later, we played them in the FA Cup semi-final and I got two of my best goals.

Honestly, though – and I’m not just saying this because Ugo has passed away – I never used to get much change out of him.

He was a huge bloke, probably the biggest defender I faced, but quick and powerful too.

When we played against Villa, I knew I had a decent scoring record against them, but I always knew I was in for a tough game.

He was such a laid-back guy and the football world is a lesser place without him.