Quotes from Ryan Mason

It was a big impact. I fractured the skull and it shattered into quite a few pieces. The plates I've had inserted will be there permanently, along with the screws.

It has been difficult because I am physically there. But when it is something so sensitive, with your brain and your skull, it does probably make it a little bit easier to accept you are not going to play again, because it could be life-threatening. So that has definitely made it easier.

It's important to bring young players through if they're good enough.

We want to play nice football but there are times in games and situations where you can't do that, and you have to come together and be solid.

If you have got a seven- or eight-year-old heading a solid ball, and his brain and his bone in his skull isn't fully developed, then that could potentially be doing damage.

Even after I retired I'd get messages about my injury and certain things, and you almost think it's another message and I'll just ignore it, but these things shouldn't be acceptable. They aren't acceptable but they just seem to be ok to happen.

No matter how hard it got, I've always been fortunate enough, thinking I'm actually lucky to be here.' I always took that mindset.

I'd be lying if I said certain comments don't affect you. We're human beings. I had to zone out of it and had to take myself off social media as a player because I didn't want to see it.

Tottenham has always been a massive club and we're getting the mix right.

I was a luxury player. Having been pampered at Tottenham for so long, I went into League One and had to graft and learn the ugly side of the game. I grew as a player.

I can confirm that following specialist medical advice I am having to retire from playing professional football.

There's always speculation around the best players.

Obviously I've had some injuries and it's kept me out of the team for quite a long time and it's always difficult to have long spells on the sidelines and then try to get back into the team.

There were a few clubs in the Championship and I spoke to some managers, but I wanted to play for Tottenham. There was always that doubt that if I left I'd end up regretting it, and I would have definitely regretted it.

I spent so long at Spurs that it's my club. If I was to become a good coach then that would be by DNA with the way they play and the way they go about things.

When you're at a club that's stable and everyone is enjoying it, it's very hard to consider leaving.

We live in a world with men wanting to be brave. Not many will stand up and say, 'I don't feel right here.'

There were times when I just couldn't be around noise, and people talking in the same room would have been too much for me.

My opinion may be different to many, but I think Oliver Skipp is an incredible talent and one of the most professional guys I have come across in the academy.

There's always another press conference, another training session and more videos to watch.