Stoke City striker James Beattie has revealed how he still stays in contact with Everton chairman Bill Kenwright.

He told the Daily Mail: "Leaving was hard to take but I'll say this: there has never been a second that I didn't think I was a Premier League footballer.

"For the first 18 months I absolutely loved it at Everton. I made some really good friends who I'm still in touch with now, not just the players but people around the club and I still speak to Bill Kenwright on a regular basis.

"We've got quite a special relationship. I phone him for advice or just to see how he's doing. I think he's a top guy and he wanted me to be the next superstar at Everton, even though it didn't quite work out.

"I was forced into a bit of a corner and I had a decision to make. Someone of the stature of Bryan Robson coming round to my house, talking to me as a person, treating me with respect and saying he wanted me to play for Sheffield United was nice to hear having spent 12 months in the wilderness.

"I didn't really want to go. I wanted to stay and prove myself like I've done several times in my career. It was a massive decision and I spoke to a lot of people in football. I've since had the same people congratulate me on the way I've come back because a lot of players drop out of the top flight and you never see them again.'"