West Brom boss Tony Pulis says Tottenham legend Gary Mabbutt is the player he respects most.

Pulis oversaw his 1,000 game in charge for yesterday's 1-1 draw at Stoke City.

“Mabbs - Gary Mabbutt," Pulis told the Daily Star when asked which player over his career he respected the most. “He was at Bristol Rovers when I started as a 17-year-old. Wonderful lad.

“I watched him at the back of a bus injecting insulin into his thigh because he's diabetic. He had to do that on the way back from games.

“One day, I was injured. He was 16 or 17 years old and I saw him with a load of balls out on the training pitch - it was Christmas morning.

“He's a really great lad. If anybody epitomises what I think footballers should be like in respect of what people should be like given the opportunity then Gary is right up there."