"What he has is great energy, more awareness on a football pitch than I gave him credit for, and he has also shown me he has great personality. He surprised me," admitted England coach Platt when asked to comment on his newest squad member.
"But then Trevor Sinclair had spoken to me about him, and he is pushing him, and you respect people like Trevor.
"But it wasn't just what Trevor said, it was the fact the other endorsement came from Steven Gerrard, through Trevor, but who knows him very well. If he [Gerrard] starts telling me there's a player who will give you everything, he is the type of person you take notice of.
"If you are talking about a midfielder who has come up against another midfield player and knows him and is talking highly of him, you don't ignore it.''