David James is stretchered off against the Netherlands at White Hart Lane (PhilCole/Allsport)

Such an item demands an explanation. 'It all goes back to a story I was told about Winston Churchill,' reveals West Ham's goalkeeper in reference to the dictionary.

'When he was a young lad his father told him to learn a new word every day. I've started doing the same with a mate of mine called Jason. He's staying at my house and when I get back I'll land the latest one on him. It's just a bit of fun really, but I've always been fascinated by the English language.'

In recent months the refreshingly articulate James has developed a number of new interests, among them yoga.

The knee injury he suffered during England's friendly against Holland last August led him to the waiting room of a Harley Street specialist, and it was there that he discovered the Hindu art of meditation and self-control.

'I'm not a big fan of Geri Halliwell or anything like that,' he said. 'I just had to go to the specialist to do some work on the knee when I spotted this poster on the wall. I asked if it would do me any good. The guy said it would be great for developing flexibility in the knee.

'After that I decided to take it up seriously and I now have someone who comes to my house twice a week. It's actually very relaxing, and when you think how stressful football can be that has to be useful.'

For James, the time spent recovering from an injury sustained in a collision with Martin Keown was remarkably beneficial.

Before that night at White Hart Lane, the 31-year-old waged a daily war against his own psyche, his irrational pursuit of perfection succeeding only in undermining his desire to be the best. At Watford, Liverpool and Aston Villa he suffered from such personal torment.

The injury was the wake-up call he needed, even if the initial diagnosis was a traumatic experience. He said: 'The day after it happened I came to the training ground to see John Green, the physiotherapist who was so brilliant in helping me to recover.

'He was the first person to have a real look at it and, without the help of a scan or an X-ray, he thought it was pretty bad. John knew I had hurt my posterior cruciate ligament, but he also suspected there were other complications and he warned me I could be out for a year.

'For two seconds in that treat-ment room I just panicked. I thought, "Strewth, that's it, the season's gone, the World Cup's gone, I've just joined a new club and I'm knackered already". In those two seconds I decided I was going to become the most unprofessional footballer the world had ever seen.

'When you get an injury like that you can't do anything for three months, and I just thought, "Sod it, I'm going to get the wife and kids, fly off to Spain and drink Sangria". But then I snapped out of it and decided the only way I was going to recover was if I looked after myself.'

Fortunately for James, Green's fears were not confirmed. He had indeed damaged his posterior cruciate, but he did not require surgery and within four months was back occupying a net of the football variety.

'I was lucky,' said James. 'In fact, the experience was good for me. The whole thing, being injured, that two seconds of major panic, and then coming back. It makes you realise how fragile a position you are in. It's not that I didn't appreciate what I had before. It's just that I now know that you can't put anything off for later.

'I do a lot of work with a psychologist called Keith Power, and it's all about achieving goals. I'm not some madman who needs taming, but in the past I would strive for perfection in the wrong way.

'We could win a game, but if I felt I had done only OK I would walk off the pitch unhappy. It's no good knocking yourself that way, because you only need someone else to knock you as well and you go down like a house of cards.

'These days I'm much more at ease with myself. All that concerns me is preparing properly for this weekend's game against Chelsea.'

The new approach appears to be working, the quality of his performances, not least in the 1-0 victory at Manchester United, strengthening his claim for a recall to the England team. In the absence of an injured David Seaman, he surely has a chance.

'I'm happy with the way things are going,' said James. 'I accept that I can't have a blinder in every game, so I just do my best to satisfy my ambitions.'

One is increasing the size of his vocabulary. 'Pedant,' he said, revealing his word for the day. 'It' s a person who insists on strict adherence to literal meaning or formal rules.'