Stoke City's USA signing Brek Shea admits he draws inspiration from his art!

Shea has his own surfboard business at home in the States, where he is chief designer.

The 6ft 3ins United States ­international said: "I like to paint two or three times a week.

"If you look at my paintings you will see a lot of them are bold, bright and ­unpredictable.

"And I play my football in pretty much the same way - so there is a comparison.

"I don't know what I'm going to do out on the pitch. I just like to go out there and it happens - that is exactly the same with my paintings.

"I play my best when I don't think about things and just do things on the spur of the moment. I am a free spirit, I suppose."