What’s on the car stereo?

It’s eclectic, but it has to be up-tempo on the way to training or to a game, and at the moment I’m listening to Shock Value, the new album by Timbaland [an American rapper]. On the way home it has to be mellow to unwind, so it might be some R’n’B, or some classical, like Tchaikovsky [the Russian composer].

Where are your favourite places in Scotland?

My wife will kill me if I don’t say Arbroath, which is special to her. Her grandad came from there. But I love Turnberry. We stayed there with Scotland, and got the chance for a round of golf. And I was lucky enough to play Carnoustie too, which is out of this world. Karen’s cousin is a member, and we went for a round just before they played the Open there. You look around, and can’t believe how beautiful it is. It’s perfection.

Which toys are you looking forward to playing with again since your daughter (Freya) was born in May?

If she likes it or not, she’s getting Scalextric very soon. But it looks as if everything’s going to be pink around here for the next 16 years. My wife’s laughing at that. I don’t think I’ve got a hope of getting any boys’ toys in the house.

Who are your heroes?

Mum and dad. Liz and Eddie. You couldn’t comprehend the sacrifices they made for me and my sister when we were growing up. They’d do anything to encourage me playing football, and Dawn played county netball, hockey and gymnastics, so between us they spent their entire time ferrying us around the place and supporting us, providing kit and so on. They gave up everything for us. I can appreciate what a struggle it must have been now that I have a child of my own.

What was your best subject at school?

PE of course, and English. I had an English teacher who was quality, Mr Powell-Jones. He encouraged me, and I’ve never lost my love of books and reading.

What are you reading now?

I like James Patterson, and I’ve got Double Cross by the bed at the moment. And The Odyssey by Homer. The Iliad and The Odyssey are my favourite books of all-time. I like Xenophon’s Anabasis too. But I love a good thriller, and my favourite is Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy.