“I met Simon at age 15, when I was hoping to get an apprenticeship with Torquay United. I didn’t really have much strength, fitness or confidence in my own ability. Over the past 10 years, Simon has been the one who stood by me through the tough times and taught me to overcome whatever problems I faced.

I went through Southampton, to Wycombe, to Watford, the Premier League with Portsmouth and then here to Newcastle, where I won a Championship medal in my first year. Quite simply Simon has been the single biggest reason I got here, the person who I always turn too when I need advice on anything, not just training. I cannot think of any coach I have met in professional football who comes close to his knowledge and foresight in how to train, eat and recover to make it where I am today”.