THERE WAS something quaintly old-fashioned and heart-warming about Kyle Walker’s admission that he gets all bashful in the presence of his boyhood hero Phil Jagielka.

It’s too easy to fall into the trap of assuming all modern footballers are immune to the emotions which ordinary fans feel when in the presence of people they’ve idolised.

Many of modern academy graduates at Premier League clubs, who have boot deals before they’ve played a top level game, might still find rubbing shoulders with older players passe. But good on Walker for reminding us that he, and all footballers (apart from maybe Cristiano Ronaldo), are human.