Dream Team: Richard Wood (Charlton Athletic)

GOALKEEPER
Keiren Westwood – Sunderland

I played with Keiren at Coventry and some of the saves he used to pull off were just unbelievable. He single-handedly used to keep us in games. He was amazing in training too and he is impressing at Sunderland now which does not surprise me at all.

RIGHT BACK
Kyle Walker – Tottenham Hotspur

He is an England international now and one of the best in the world but I played against him when he was at Sheffield United and he tore us apart. That has happened plenty of times in my career but to do it from right-back was very impressive.

CENTRE BACK
Lee Bullen – retired

Lee was captain at Sheffield Wednesday in the year we got promoted, he was a fantastic player and great leader, he got on really well with all the lads and that was one of the best seasons of my career. A true gentleman off the pitch as well.

CENTRE BACK
Richard Wood – Charlton Athletic

If this is my team then I want to be playing, so I will come in at centre-back so can be part of this team!

LEFT BACK
Tommy Spurr – Blackburn Rovers

At Wednesday we used to drive into training together so I have spent a lot of time with Tommy. He’s a good mate. I’m delighted he’s got his move to Blackburn. He’s a very strong defender and is having a very decent career.

RIGHT MIDFIELD
Theo Walcott – Arsenal

Everyone knows about Theo nowadays but I played against him when he was an unknown at Southampton. He was a bit raw back then but his pace was extraordinary. I came up against him last season as well in the cup and he was superb then too.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Glenn Whelan – Stoke City

Glenn and Chris Brunt are going to be my midfield pairing. We were in the same Sheffield Wednesday team and I’m delighted with how Glenn’s done. He can fill whatever role you need in the middle, he gets stuck in and always works hard.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Chris Brunt – West Brom

Chris normally plays on the left but I’m going to have him in the middle with Glenn. He’s got an absolute wand of a left foot, I saw it from the first day he arrived at Sheff Wed and he is now an international and a Premier League regular.

LEFT MIDFIELD
Gareth Bale – Real Madrid

I don’t think this one needs much explaining. At Coventry last year we played Tottenham in the FA Cup and from the moment he walked onto the pitch you could just tell he was of a different level. He glided past me plenty of times and is now the world’s most ex-pensive player which does not surprise me in the slightest.

STRIKER
Dion Dublin – retired

I played in Dion’s last-ever game. It was at Hillsborough and he got a standing ovation from both sets of supporters, which tells you everything you need to know about what sort of a player and a man he is. I knew Dion from my time at Coventry as well and he’s a true gent.

STRIKER
Grant Holt – Wigan Athletic

I was thinking about having Wayne Rooney in here but I’ve gone for Grant. He was a great pal of mine when we were both youngsters at Sheff Wed. We used to play endless hours of Pro Evo together in his flat. And out on the pitch he has made a fantastic career for himself. He knows what his strengths are and he plays to them and that made him such a success at Norwich and now at Wigan.