Dier on life in coronavirus lockdown including keeping chicken named Margot

The football season might be on hiatus, but Eric Dier’s awarded himself a fowl - and called her Margot.

The England and Spurs midfielder has started tending to chickens and has even named his brood.

Eric, 26, has been growing crops in a homemade veg patch in his garden since the UK went into lockdown.

“I’ve got some chickens - one’s called Margot,” he crows.

But Eric’s main source of pride comes from tending to his burgeoning crop of potatoes, courgettes and herbs - which he regularly photographs, and sends around to his teammates, to keep them posted on their developments.

“It’s like my little baby,” says Eric, puffed with pride. “I go out there every day and make sure everything’s OK.

Eric, who built his vegetable garden using planks of wood to raise the bedding, and sheets to prevent weeds interfering with his crop, hopes he’ll be able to rustle up some grub in a few months.

“That’s the dream,” the Good lifer has gushed. “It’s been fun. I’d prefer to be playing football, but it has been fun.”

In case you’re wondering if the whole Spurs squad has been getting down and dirty in the garden with all their unexpected free time, they haven't.

While chatting on a social media livestream, Eric and teammate Dele Alli revealed Ryan Sessegnon has been playing Monopoly, Jan Vertonghen likes a game of chess, and Kyle Walker-Peters - on loan to Southampton - once spent a full 12 hours logged on to a PlayStation party.

“He said he’d just left it on, but he was lying,” laughs Dele.