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(Image: GETTY/ CHICKEN & EGG MAGAZINE)

The 26-year-old might be known for his football but his real love is for chickens…Yep, seriously.

The Liverpool midfielder owns an eye-watering 16 feathered friends and he’s named every last one of them.

They are: Bruce, Rodney, Meg, Leg, Silkie Steve, Kate, Silkie Steve junior, Giblets, Snowy, Nugget, Kiev, Dora, Holly, Shimmer, Shine and Chickaletta.

(Image: CHICKEN & EGG MAGAZINE) (Image: GETTY)

He was even bought a cockerel by wife Lacey for his 24th birthday.

And the internet was sent into overdrive last month when his face was found on a chicken nugget.

In a devastating twist for the bearded maestro, the picture came after he appeared on the cover of – wait for it – Chicken & Egg magazine.

In it, he professes his undying love for the flightless birds.

(Image: CHICKEN & EGG MAGAZINE)

(Image: TWITTER)

He told the magazine: "Lacey was behind the decision.

"We both have an interest in animal welfare but she came up with the idea to save hens and I agreed it was something that would be great to do.

"We didn’t have any hens growing up but wanted to help chickens after they finished their commercial lives."

The Liverpool man has been on top form at Euro 2016.

And, alongside part-time street dancer Joe Ledley, he’s shepherded Chris Coleman’s Welshmen into a historic semi-final against Portugal.

Well Joe, each to their own…