West Bromwich Albion captain Darren Fletcher has labelled Steven Gerrard as a 'real footballer'.

In the wake of the Liverpool legend's 500th Premier League appearance on the weekend, the tributes have flown in for the 34-year old former England skipper who is set to leave English football at the end of the season.

Fletcher has spent many years playing against Gerrard, mainly as part of the fierce Manchester United-Liverpool rivalry, so is well-versed to comment on the attributes of the Anfield great who became just the 12th player to reach the 500-game milestone.

"He is fierce, ferocious," Fletcher told Premier League TV.

"He'll tackle, kick, foul, do what he can in the 90 minutes but the biggest thing I always remember about Steven Gerrard is that he always shook hands after the game. He is a real footballer and a real man's man."

Gerrard will depart Liverpool when the current campaign finishes to take his glittering career to North America with Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy.