Former Premier League defender James Collins has revealed that he once, bizarrely, played a match with a steak strapped to his foot.
Collins made nearly 300 appearances in the English top-flight throughout his career however there is one match that will live long in his memory.
The former West Ham and Aston Villa defender explained that, due to an injury, he was once advised by medical staff to have a steak inside his football boot.
Explaining the bizarre incident on the Peter Crouch Podcast, Collins explained: ‘I’m not sure you’re going to believe it but it 100 per cent happened. I was at Villa and I’d broken my foot.
‘On the Friday before this particular game, our doctor at the time said, ‘Right, you’re going to think I’m mad but we’re going to get some cling film and put a steak on top of your foot to take the pressure away from the broken bone.
‘So I played a Premier League game with a 10-ounce sirloin! It couldn’t be a fillet, I wouldn’t get my boot on! It did f*** all. It was almost cooked at half-time because I was sweating!’
James Collins revealed he once played a Premier League game with a steak inside his boot
The former West Ham and Aston Villa defender revealed the story on a podcast appearance
Crouch and Steve Sidwell – two fellow former Premier League stars – were sent into a frenzy of laughter as Collins described the unique situation.
It’s unconfirmed as to which match Collins was referring to.
The former Wales international made 54 Premier League appearances for West Ham before joining Aston Villa for three years and then later returning to the Hammers.
At Villa, he made 91 top-flight appearances before making a further 134 during his second stint at West Ham.
During his playing career, Collins was a runner up in the FA Cup with West Ham in 2006 and a runner up in the League Cup with Villa in 2010.
After his second spell in east London, he secured a move to Ipswich Town in 2019 however made just six appearances for the Tractor Boys.
The now 41-year-old retired from football in October 2020.
