Former QPR star Martin Allen says the first time he saw Everton ace Ross Barkley he was a bit of a fatty!

Allen wrote in the Daily Mail: "I went up to watch Everton reserves versus Sunderland reserves at Everton's training ground three years ago. I was manager at Notts County at the time.

"As the teams came out onto the pitch, my goalkeeper coach Carl Muggleton - who played for Liverpool, Stoke, Celtic - said to me: 'Flipping hell, that No 8 is overweight!'

"I whispered in his ear: 'Carlo, that's Ross Barkley.' He obviously hadn't played in the first team at that age. Carlo replied: 'Who's Ross Barkley?' I said rumour has it he's going to Manchester United for £5million. Carlo laughed and said he needs to lose some weight."