Gary Cahill has revealed how the gallows humour of his Bolton Wanderers teammates helped him recover from life-saving surgery.

The Trotters defender faces Stoke today in his fourth game back after recovering from a blood clot lurking in his upper chest.

Cahill missed 11 matches after surgery that ended with a rib being removed and the player being informed his life could have been in danger had he not had treatment.

Now fit and well, Cahill has been on the receiving end of some serious stick from his team-mates.

The ex-Aston Villa man said: "Surgery lasted an hour and a half and I was so sore when I came round.

"That was not surprising as the surgeon removed my whole top rib.

"When the lads are out having a Chinese meal, they think it's funny to send me pictures on their mobiles of spare ribs.

"But concern about my health is in the past. I've come out the other end."