TEAMtalk Insider:~TEAMtalk Top 10

rss logoThursday 28th August 2008 11:39

Fuller: Wonder goal last weekend

Fuller: Wonder goal last weekend

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The third edition of TEAMtalk's Top 10 sees our Insider Mark Holmes talk to Stoke City's goal hero from last weekend - Jamaican Ricardo Fuller.

All of the Stoke players will be talking to our Insider this season and following in the footsteps of Liam Lawrence and Thomas Sorensen is Fuller, who hit the headlines at the weekend with a stunning goal against Aston Villa.

The 28-year-old had the same sprint coach as Usain Bolt at High School but it was football, not athletics, that Fuller fell in love with and he got his first break in the game with Tivoli Gardens in his native Jamaica.

His blistering pace and expert finishing earned him a £1million move to England with Crystal Palace in 2001 but a series of knee injuries saw him return to Tivoli after just eight appearances for the Eagles.

He was back in the UK the following season, though, with eight goals in 27 appearances for Hearts putting him back in the shop window for English clubs. And sure enough Fuller was soon on his way to Preston for £500,000 after the Jambos failed to match his asking price.

It was at Deepdale that the striker really established himself, although further trouble with his knee prevented him from improving on an already impressive record of 27 goals in 58 games.

It was enough to earn him a move to the Premier League with Portsmouth in 2004 but it was at Fratton Park that Fuller endured the worst spell of his career as injuries again took their toll. He scored just once in 31 games for Harry Redknapp's side but the two were to be reunited at Southampton a year later as Pompey swapped managers.

Fuller's record of nine in 31 was better with the Saints but it has arguably been with the Potters that he has best fulfilled his potential. He was signed by Tony Pulis in a £500,000 deal in the summer of 2006 and has gone on to establish himself as a firm fan favourite at the Britannia Stadium.

He has been City's top scorer for the last two seasons, scoring 15 last term, and has started life back in the Premier League with goals in successive games.

His strike against Aston Villa last weekend has been described as world class and the Potters faithful will be praying he can produce something similar at Middlesbrough this weekend.

Here are his answers to TEAMtalk's Top Ten:

What club did you support growing up? Liverpool because of John Barnes but most of my family supported Arsenal.

What has been the highlight of your career so far? It was playing Brazil just after they won the World Cup at Leicester's stadium. I had people ringing up my agents phone after the game too so I must have done something right!

Who is the best player in the world today in your position? There's a few. Didier Drogba definitely. Ronaldo is on the right but he plays central too. Thierry Henry has been one of the best for sure and...Rooney is quite good as well! He's ok!

Which team do you want to beat more than any other this season? Every team. We're going to try and win each game.

What would you rather do, score a goal to keep us up, or one to win us the FA Cup? To keep us up, definitely.

Which band, past or present, would you most liked to have been in? I like Coldplay!

What's the best prank you've ever had played on you by a team-mate? At Portsmouth Griff nicked by boxer shorts and to this day I haven't got them back! I went home commando! Griffin is a bad lad!

Which of your team-mates is the worst dressed? Steve Simonsen, he can't lose this one!

And the worst trainer? Jon Parkin.

And finally, which of your team-mates would you least like to get into a fight with? Jon Parkin as well.

What do you think of Ricardo's answers? Simonsen's now got three out of three votes for worst dressed...just what does that man wear? Jon 'the Beast' Parkin seems to be the worst trainer but would you tell him - he's also the hardest so far!

We want your feedback so use our story comment facility to let us know what you think. Is there any questions you'd like our Insider to ask next? And which player do you you want to hear from most?

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