James Miilner has stated that there wasn't any single Leeds United player he tried to replicate but rather multiple key stars who inspired him onto greatness.
The Liverpool star named a clutch of famous Whites faces among those he admired growing up at Elland Road, alongside former Newcastle and England legend Alan Shearer.
Writing in his new book Ask a Footballer, Milner also weighed in on his memories of watching Paul Gascoigne during his Lazio days, speaking about the Channel 4 football programme block on weekends.
"I wouldn’t say I had any one particular role model, or a player that I tried to emulate" he stated. "There were different players I liked and I probably tried to take bits from all of them.
"I’ve mentioned [Tony] Yeboah, [Jimmy Floyd] Hasselbaink, [Lee] Bowyer and [Alan] Smith, but away from Leeds, I was a massive fan of Alan Shearer, particularly after Euro 96, and Gazza.
"I used to love getting up on Saturday mornings to watch Gazza playing for Lazio on Gazzetta Football Italia.
"Channel 4 was great on Saturday mornings: kabaddi, then Transworld Sport, then Gazzetta. They don’t make Saturday morning TV like that any more."
Milner began his career with United and came through the youth ranks at the club before turning professional in 2002.
He subsequently moved to Newcastle United upon Leeds' relegation, and was a Premier League title winner with Manchester City before he arrived on Merseyside.
Ask a Footballer was released last month and is available from all good retailers and outlets.
