Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has told Liverpool fans that El Hadji Diouf "is a good lad".

The Scouser played with Diouf at Bolton Wanderers.

He told the Liverpool Echo: “Listen, I know there's a lot of bad stuff about him.

“And he does let himself down sometimes with what he says, and the disrespect he shows to Stevie and Carra. I'd like to give him a little clip round the earhole sometimes to be honest!

“But do you know what? He's a lovely lad and he's got a heart of gold. The trouble is, he wants to be on the telly, and he knows if he speaks about those two he will be.

“He was a top player, it just didn't work for him at Liverpool for whatever reason. And I used to LOVE telling him that he was the only No.9 who never scored for Liverpool in a whole season!

“Every time he got a bit big for his boots, I would tell him; 'You were the worst No.9 I've ever seen at Liverpool!' He couldn't come back at that, so I always had one over him on that!"