I had dreams of being a professional rugby player.Collection: Dreams
Communication is something that I find if don't do, I will go missing, I won't be fully focused. If I'm constantly giving messages to the defenders not only do they know where they are but I am switched on and in the right position. It all links together.Collection: Communication
As soon as I was given the opportunity at Stoke it was head down, this is what I want. This is where I want to be, this is my opportunity and I was fully confident about taking it.
You want to make an impact and show what you're about.
I don't prepare to sit on the bench, I prepare to play because you never know what is going to happen.
I like to feel I'm mature, consistent as a keeper and I pride myself on my shot-stopping and the presence that I have.
I've dealt with bigger things than the odd performance, dealt with a hell of a long time out of the game from an injury which shouldn't have kept me out for that long. I've had to deal with fears of not playing again, I'm a bigger man for it and I will be better for it in the future.
I would have liked to have played more but injuries are part and parcel of football and you've got to shoulder it, got to take it on and get on with it.
I've played for England Under-21s, in the Under-20 World Cup and I've been part of the play-offs in the Championship. But in terms of helping my career and getting me ready, going to Cheltenham Town was a massive experience.
It's difficult to get away from the media, from social media. It's a big thing in society and in football, in particular.
When I am No. 2, and I am working as hard as I can, then quite often the keeper ahead starts to raise his game even more.
I hardly had any coaching until I joined Birmingham where I had Dave Watson for five years. He's one of the best and I knew how important that was for me.
The most important thing for me is being part of a successful England squad and being as big a part of it as I can.
England is really important to me, and the only way I can stay in there is by playing well.
Ask any keeper what it's like when there's a recognised No. 1, the competition might not be as high. You're after that competition because it drives you on further.
You've got to do your homework, and you've got to look at what makes people successful, what makes penalty takers unsuccessful. Ultimately, they're the ones kicking it, so how can you transfer the pressure on to them? How can you disrupt their pattern to make it difficult?
I played rugby until I was 15, 16 and I eventually had to say, 'No, I have to choose one' and it was obviously going to be football, I miss playing rugby a lot.
We are a rugby family really. My dad and both granddads played rugby. Dad was good, on his way to Bath until he broke his leg. My brother Harry got an invitation to go and play for Bristol. I go and watch Sale Sharks and have been to Twickenham a few times.
Coming to Stoke was a chance for me to develop and take my game to the next level.
I had a fantastic time at Birmingham and I never regret anything that happened there.
I know my dad would have loved me to have played rugby. He was a No. 8. I started off playing centre and ended up playing at the back of the scrum, No. 8 as well, just picking it up and running with it.
The Olympics has solely been around other sports as far as Great Britain has been considered.
I learnt at the Euros that that is the level I want to be at. That is where I want to be. The standard of the strikers there was top class. That is where I want to be for a long period of my career.
Of course, I want to play for England as often as I can and at major tournaments.
I do want to play at the top.
It is obviously wonderful to be linked with a club with the history of Liverpool.
As a goalkeeper it's so important to be in the right position to come and clear those through balls, to make those right decisions.
My ambitions are to be the Stoke number one and England number one, but there are other things I want to achieve in my career as well.
I want to play in the Champions League and I want to win trophies.
There's no reason why we can't win trophies at Stoke, we'll try and win some cups and do as well as we can, but I obviously have ambitions.
I'm always confident in my ability; you have to be as a goalkeeper.
All I can focus on is playing as many games as I can at the highest level. If that leads me to the World Cup, then brilliant. It's certainly a target of mine.
If I could wish to steal anyone's attributes whose would it be? Good question. Maybe not a specific attribute, but if I could replicate the longevity of Buffon's career I'd be a happy man.
I am not someone who enjoys being on the bench.
I won't kick up a fuss and I will always be a team man, but ultimately I want to play.
You never know what may happen with injuries and suspensions.
I am enjoying the opportunity to play in the Premier League.
We can only control what we do on the pitch and what we do on the training ground.
We all know the power of social media, things can get out there so quickly. We are high-profile footballers, we know that.
We have to be aware of our profile all the time now, there are cameras everywhere. It can be difficult at times, we are young men after all. But we know we have to be careful. We have to be responsible.
To be in the England squad, you have got to be playing well and your standards have got to be up there.
You reach sometimes when you're at the lowest and times when you don't know if you are going to play again or when the next injection or operation might be. There are sometimes when you are at rock bottom. That's when you need people around you, at the club, the fans, little tweets on social media to give you some reassurance.
I feel I have experienced pretty much everything I can in football, winning, losing, the injury side and all the set-backs.
It's a good thing isn't it, having competition? I enjoy it.
I wasn't a goalkeeper until I was 13 or 14 so before that, my heroes were the likes of Paul Scholes and David Beckham, but since becoming a goalkeeper, I've obviously trained with Joe Hart.
I want to be playing in the Premier League.
I've always said and I've never hidden the fact that I want to play at the top, be England's No 1 and win trophies.
I'm at Stoke, I'm enjoying it, it's not my fault and I shouldn't be discriminated against just because who I play for.
I want to become the best goalkeeper in the country and the best goalkeeper around.
Whether you play or whether you're on the bench, or however it may be, at some point in your career you will be one of those three roles. You will either be a young, up-and-coming goalkeeper watching the experienced one, you'll either be on the bench or you'll be in goal yourself.