STRAIGHT away it's obvious that I played with many legends when you consider that in goal my choice was between Gordon Banks, Ray Clemence, Peter Shilton and Pat Jennings, a team-mate at Arsenal. I went for Shilts because I found him faultless. Normally keepers are remembered for their mistakes. But outside of his when England played Poland at Wembley, I cannot remember one rick over a long career.

I'M picking Toddy at right-back because he played there when I was in the England team - and it allows me to select another two greats in the centre of the defence. Toddy was exceptionally quick, almost as quick as me. He was the nearest when it came to staying with me which meant we had some titantic battles.

ROY was Toddy's partner at Derby and a player of genuine class. He was calm and assured and a true international-class performer.

WHAT can I say? England's World Cup-winning skipper? Funnily enough, I loved playing against Mooro and he hated me because I got my head down and went at him at 100mph. You could never allow him to be composed, you had to be flying when he was in the way. A magnificent reader of the game.

MY old Newcastle mucker is left-back because he's the best defender I ever played with, an art largely lost with today's full-backs. I can't remember anyone consistently skinning him.

I KNOW his selection on the right wing will surprise a lot of people, but I can only speak as I find and he was a gem for me at Newcastle. Very quick, he drilled the ball into the box which was perfect for me, on the floor or in the air.

I WAS forced to pick two from three for the centre of midfield - Bally, Liam Brady and Johnny Haynes. Alan was a master with both Arsenal and England. He said to me: "When I get the ball, Mal, you get on your bike. If I don't deliver it with my first touch I will with my second. I never take three touches." He was as good as his word, a real inspiration.

I WAS only a teenager at Fulham when I played with Haynes and he was the master. He ran Fulham, often at the expense of the manager, but his touch and passing range were outstanding.

YOU didn't expect me to pick my best side without Hibby in it, did you? He was my biggest goal provider at Newcastle. He made the bullets and I fired them. Chippy Brady was the better all-round footballer, and could easily have played on the left for me, but Hibby was always my man.

AGAIN, I was spoilt for choice when it came to my two strikers with Channon, Geoff Hurst, Kevin Keegan, Frank Stapleton, John Tudor, and Budgie Byrne all in the running. However, Channon was my first choice.

HE was only a kid when he partnered me at Arsenal. The club were considering selling Frank but I told the boss "You must be kidding. "Leave him with me for a couple of seasons and he'll become a top notcher." They did and he did, a star who went on to excel for Manchester United.

My team of the best players I faced but never played alongside: Sepp Maier (West Germany); Paul Breitner (West Germany), Franz Beckenbauer (West Germany), Anton Ondrus (Czechoslovakia), Kenny Sansom; Bobby Charlton, Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles, George Best; Denis Law, Gerd Muller (West Germany)