Paul Gascoigne’s bizarre pre-match snack revealed by former team-mate Gary Lineker, who laughs ‘only Gazza’

FORMER footie idol Paul Gascoigne used to scoff corn flakes before a game to help him rise and shine on the pitch.

He tucked in to the breakfast cereal as part of his pre-match meal, former team-mate Gary Lineker reveals.

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker revealed on Radio 4 that Paul Gascoigne enjoyed corn flakes as a pre-game snackGetty

Gazza, 56, was in his prime and playing for Tottenham at the time in the 1990/91 season.

He steered Spurs to FA Cup glory with a stunning free-kick versus arch rivals Arsenal in a 3-1 semi-final win.

Match of the Day host Lineker, 63, read out a list of their pre-match meals on BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme.

He said: “Paul Allen, roast chicken, Nayim, lasagne, Guoni Bergsson, spaghetti bolognese — as did I apparently.

“Pasta seemed to be the thing back then.

“Paul Gascoigne, lasagne and corn flakes. Only Gazza.”

Lineker also revealed that his plans to stay healthy in Barcelona were thrown into disarray, explaining: “I went to Barcelona and even on the day of the game you’d sit at tables of four and there would always be a bottle of Rioja on the table and four glasses.”

“Even pre-match you’d drink the whole bottle between you.

“Me and Mark Hughes couldn’t believe it when we first joined.

“We thought ‘this is alright’. 

“I can’t imagine that’s still a thing now – I’d be very surprised.”