He /was/ a 'lightning fast', agile Barry, with a higher work rate than Milner.
Seperating him from typical English players, is that his technique was great.
Powerful shot. Used to be known to be a FK specialist. Big time big game player.
Oh, I forgot to mention his passing was sublime. Hell for the type of midfielder he was, I'd even say he was creative. I really, really, rated this guy, and he was the one rag I wanted to succeed.
Basically, he was everything you could want from a midfielder. CM, DM, AM (If needed), R/L Winger, and RB? A true midfield enforcer.
His stamina was already naturally superhuman and he's been working out himself. If he's really, fit, I could believe it. He probably won't be as polished of a world class footballer as he once was but if he gets some game time, and stays healthy, it could come back, and I think we would have our very own "Cinderella Man".
As another poster said, if he is 70% of what he used to be, I'd want him in the squad. He's out to make a point to all the people that wrote him off because he had the worst luck you could bestow on an athlete. He isn't injury prone imo, just unlucky. Remember, up until he was 26, 3 years or so ago, it wasn't ever bad.
Give him a chance, all you spoilt children that want another superstar. If it doesn't work out, then it doesn't. If it does work out, only time will dictate what benefits we could reap.
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P.S.: I do have a theory/question, if his body is healthy now, considering, he hasn't played as much for the last few years could his body be less deteriorated than comparable athletes at his age and capable of working for more years to come?