England midfielder James Milner insists he can laugh off the 'boring' tag handed to him by a parody Twitter account.
While some footballers take umbrage at parody accounts and try to get them shut down, Milner has no plans to do the same.
In fact, the Manchester City midfielder will scan through the timeline of @BoringMilner throughout the World Cup as he finds the account rather amusing.
The spoof messages have earned a cult following due to tweets about such dreary subjects as making tea and eating toast. Nearly a quarter of a million people follow it.
The England midfielder does not hold anything against the person who set up the account. His only wish is that his foundation's account, promoting youth sport participation, had more followers.
"It's not doing badly, whoever it is," Milner said. "My foundation has 15,000 followers. I wish it had as many (as the spoof account).
"It's good fun. I've read a few of them, and some of them are very funny."
Milner had suspicions that someone inside Manchester City may be behind the account, which was set up last August.
"We went through this (at the club) wondering who it was," the former Leeds man said.
"There were a few tweets about Asda so I was asking the masseurs where they shopped. I don't think it's at the club, no. Who knows? It's good fun.
"I've never got close enough (to finding out who is behind it). I thought I had (at one point) but I realised they didn't have enough banter."
Milner may be the butt of jokes on social media, but to Roy Hodgson the midfielder is by no means a figure of fun.
The England manager will field Milner for the 20th time during his reign on Wednesday when the Three Lions take on Ecuador at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami.
Milner's selection will be greeted with groans in some quarters due to the perception that when he takes to the field, England will play more defensively.
The former Leeds, Newcastle and Aston Villa man is generally seen as a player who can be introduced to firm up the midfield and stifle opposition.
He may have one goal in 46 international appearances, but he has performed consistently well for City, where he has won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup.
"Look at the number of goals I've created in the Premier League in my career. I'm sure I'd be quite high up there," he said.
"I can create goals but also do a job for the team defensively as well."
The main reason why Hodgson is considering selecting Milner for England's World Cup opener against Italy on June 14 is his phenomenal work rate.
The 28-year-old feels part of the reason behind his almost limitless energy is because he is teetotal.
The Yorkshireman said: "It's not like I'm against alcohol. It's just a decision I made and, if you've never had it, you don't miss it.
"I might (have a drink if England win the World Cup). That's one moment where I might."
Source: PA
