Blackpool great Charlie Adam says: Stephen Crainey is best left-back I ever played alongside

The fellow Scotland internationals and Seasiders greats were both at Bloomfield Road from 2009-11, winning promotion to the Premier League and spending an unforgettable season in the top-flight.

Reading midfielder Adam named Crainey among the best 11 he has ever played with, a list dominated by Liverpool and Stoke City players.

Crainey, who has been on the coaching team at Fleetwood Town for the past three seasons, is named alongside Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Luis Suarez on Adam’s list.

He is the only former Blackpool player selected by Adam, who told BBC Radio Lancashire: “He set the tone for everyone else in how we trained and played. He looked after himself very well – ultimate professional. He had a good career.”

Having played for Celtic, Southampton and Leeds United, Crainey followed six seasons at Blackpool with stints at Wigan Athletic, Fleetwood and AFC Fylde.

Glen Johnson, Ryan Shawcross and Carragher are the other defenders selected by Adam, who added: “That back four would keep clean sheets.

“Some times these days you get managers who want to play out and make everything look pretty but this defence has quality in it.

“Both full-backs can pass and cross. The centre-backs will head it, kick it and fight and scrap. That’s what I want from my centre-backs. They’re a good foundation for going forward.”

Crainey was also named in a Blackpool team of the decade selected by Gazette readers last December.

Charlie Adam’s best XI (former team-mates): Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher, Ryan Shawcross, Stephen Crainey, Steven Nzonzi, Steven Gerrard, Darren Fletcher, Raheem Sterling, Marko Arnautovic, Luis Suarez.