ON THE LAST THREE WEEKS

It's been a tough and weird few weeks, but now I've moved on and I'm just looking forward to the game.

ON THE TACKLE

It was an accident and these things happen in football. It was a tackle most players would make.

If you watch the tackle you'll know I've gone for the ball. I have never gone out to intentionally hurt someone.

ON HIS TEARFUL EXIT FROM THE BRITANNIA

I was upset that I'd caused someone such pain. The guilt of hurting someone is something you can't describe.

I drove myself home. Mum met me in reception and asked if I was all right and then I went home.

Rory Delap popped round afterwards, but he's a good friend, so it's not unusual for him to come round.

ON HIS PSYCHOLOGICAL RECOVERY

When you hurt someone, it's not nice. It was unintentional and disappointing, but I've moved on from that. Injuries happen in football and you can't change it. Like any tackle, if you're a fraction late or early, there's a chance of injuring somebody. That's the risk you take in football.

I've been hurt in tackles and you just have to get on with it.

I've forgotten it and moved on – and will hopefully play against Spurs.

ON CONTACT WITH RAMSEY

I left him a voice message and a text message, wishing him all the best.

It (meeting him) is something I might do in the future, but it's up to Aaron.

ON PHONE CALL FROM SIR ALEX FERGUSON

He rang me after the Carling Cup final while all the celebrations were going on in the background. We had a good chat and it lifted my spirits. He's a fantastic manager and even when you leave, he always keeps in touch.

He just said to keep my head up and that he knew I didn't mean it.

The gaffer (Tony Pulis) has also been fantastic, texting me and calling me while I was away.

ON MESSAGES OF SUPPORT

I've had about 300 e-mails and about 100 letters. All have been supportive. I've had a lot from Stoke fans, but also from fans from most clubs, including Arsenal.

Some take me through their own lives and how these kinds of things happen in their lives.

It's good that people think I'm an honest person.

ON HIS FIRST TACKLE POST-RAMSEY

I slipped and tackled Gareth Barry quite hard. It was good to get it out of my system.

ON BEING THE SAME RYAN SHAWCROSS

I knew straight away that I was going to be the same player who'd still make my tackles. I will just play my normal game, as I've always done.

ON ENGLAND CALL-UP

I was on a big downer after the Arsenal incident, then to get the call-up for England was a fantastic achievement.

Steven Gerrard sent a text welcoming me into the squad. Straight away I knew the lads would be fine with me. He didn't have to do that and it shows what kind of person he is.

ON BEING INVOLVED WITH ENGLAND

To be involved with players such as Gerrard, Rooney and Terry was something I really enjoyed.

They thought I'd had a tough weekend and they just said 'you're a good player and deserve to be in the squad'.

It's something I always dreamt of and something I can hopefully do again.

I spoke to Theo (Walcott) and I just said to him I didn't mean it. He said he knew it and would give my best wishes to Aaron.

ON WORLD CUP CHANCES

All I can do is concentrate on playing well for Stoke between now and the end of the season – and you never know what happens in football.

Hopefully I can put some good performances in and maybe sneak in. Hopefully the manager (Fabio Capello) will be watching.

He just said to me that Stoke are a good team playing well and to keep it going. That's good for me and for Stoke – and hopefully we can do that.

I've booked a holiday in Greece, but it can be cancelled. But there are a lot of good players in front of me.

ON TOMORROW'S COMEBACK

It's up to the manager if I play. The lads have done well in my absence – and Abdy (Abdoulaye Faye) and Higgy (Danny Higginbotham) did well in the last game.

It would be good to write the right headlines and hopefully put my name in and around that 30-man squad going to Austria for the World Cup preparations.

ON SPURS

It's another difficult game and they want revenge on us. Like any good team they've got top strikers and all offer challenges to defenders.

We'll have to be on our toes to deal with them.

Under Harry Redknapp they seem to have improved a lot and look like they might get that fourth place.

But it shows how far we've come that we're playing a top-four team and are maybe doing the double over them.