Source: Daily_Mail
Fuller reveals Stoke's game plan: You beat Arsenal by being physical
Artistic merit: Jamaica striker Fuller, raised a Christian, helped under-privileged children spray paint murals on a concourse at Britannia Stadium[LNB]At 6ft 3in tall, Ricardo Fuller is an impressive, confident, imposing man.[LNB] Stoke City's Jamaican centre forward has overcome three career-threatening injuries, played for seven different British clubs and forged lasting friendships with superstars such as sprinter Usain Bolt and cricketer Chris Gayle.[LNB] But under no circumstances should you ask him to get in to a swimming pool. Especially at night. [LNB]'When I was a kid, I watched a film about giant rats coming through the pipes in the pool and attacking people,' laughed Fuller. 'It was like Jaws. Ever since then, I have never wanted to be in a swimming pool on my own, especially not at night. [LNB]'I like to see what's happening under the water and I have to make sure I am grounded as well. [LNB]'I always think about sharks and crocodiles. I don't even know if they have them in the Caribbean. I have never been far enough out to find out. [LNB]'Remember that most Jamaicans don't go on the beach to swim. They don't go anywhere near the water. Many black guys can't swim and I can't. For me, I don't go where the water passes my shoulder. I don't even like boats. [LNB]'I will go on a jet ski as it's quick and fast and exciting. And it's so fast that a crocodile could never catch me!' [LNB]While Fuller tells his 'phobia' story, his shoulders heave with laughter. Self-deprecation is rare in the modern footballer but the 30-year-old is laughing heartily at himself. And he has good reason to be happy. [LNB] Hot-shot: Fuller scores against Portsmouth, one of almost 40 goals for the club[LNB]Life is good for Fuller at Stoke. Part of Tony Pulis's progressive side, he is free of injury and central to the grand plan. [LNB]It has not always been this way and, to illustrate, he takes us back to June 20, 2000. It was not a good day for the West Indies cricket team, as they were roundly humiliated by England at Lord's. [LNB]It was, however, even worse for one of their biggest followers. Recovering from a career-saving back injury, Fuller - then just 20 - sat at the home of cricket watching the drama unfold while harnessed in a back corset and fretting over a career that had not even started. [LNB]'The hospital was opposite Lord's,' Fuller told Sportsmail this week. 'I will never forget the time I spent there as it eventually saved my career. But it was worrying. I went across the road to watch the cricket one day with a corset on my back. It was very uncomfortable sitting there like that all day.[LNB] [LNB]Enlarge 'It was a very bad day for us. There were 22 wickets on one day. And we lost. Bowled out for 50 or 60 or something (it was 54). I knew a lot of the players and my friends were playing. [LNB]'It was a bad day for West Indian sport. But at least they only had to think about the game. I was worrying about my career as well.' [LNB]It was after a trial as a 19-year-old at Charlton that a back problem caused him to fail a subsequent medical. 'My world fell around me,' he recalled. 'The move was off, I was out for 13 months and my career was almost over before it had begun.' [LNB]After spells at Crystal Palace and Hearts finally got him moving, a serious knee injury shattered his world again while he was playing for Preston in 2003.[LNB] 'It was November 30th at Coventry,' he recalled. 'I never forget the dates. They always live in my mind. Whenever I was on the way up, something like that would happen. [LNB]'Liverpool were watching me then and maybe I would have gone. But then I got injured and that was another chance disappeared. I was out for seven-and-a-half months in all.' [LNB]Subsequent spells at Portsmouth - where he initially failed another medical - Southampton and Ipswich were to lead him to Stoke in 2006.[LNB] Safely inland, it is here that he has finally found his place in the football sun. He has scored almost 40 goals for Pulis's side - although only two have come this season - and will be at the head of his team's attack when they travel to Arsenal tomorrow. [LNB]'Arsenal are known for silky touches and trying to walk the ball in to the back of the net,' he said. 'But it's also proven that, when you play physical against them, you often win. Chelsea always do it and they always beat them. [LNB] Big softie: Fuller is an imposing man but is scared of swimming pools[LNB]'Last year, at home, we did it and we won. It's the only way we know how to play and it's certainly a good weapon to use against Arsenal.' [LNB]This week Fuller was at the Britannia Stadium to help under-privileged children spray paint murals on one of the concourses at Stoke's impressive home ground. [LNB]There to support the Premier League's 'Creating Chances' scheme, Fuller - raised as a Christian at home in Kingston - was a willing participant and came away with a new cap. '"One Love" is what it says,' he smiled. 'It's one of my mottos. I sign it after my name when I do autographs.' [LNB]Nevertheless, manager Pulis once described him as 'moody'. Fuller does not disagree. 'I take it seriously,' he nodded. 'If I think somebody is messing about in training then I will get on to them and my bad moods come out. But every striker is moody. [LNB]'I need confidence. Without confidence. I am nothing. Football is everything to me. I have had proper injuries, really big ones. I almost had this taken away from me before it even started. [LNB]'So for me to be here now is amazing and unbelievable. I just don't want to let go.' 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