Demba Ba's syrup, Vidic's fish and chips and more ingredients behind footballers' success

Before scoring in Newcastle's 3-0 pounding of Man United, prolific Toon striker Demba Ba revealed that strawberry syrup has been an "addiction" in his daily diet for the last ten years. "Always, when I drink water, I put syrup in it," said Ba.

He's not the first superstar footballer who has sworn by a specific sustenance that might not totally approved by sports nutritionists…

Nemanja Vidic: FISH AND CHIPS

Man United's captain revealed that when he moved to England, the traditional British delicacy was vital to his settling process in the Premier League: "It’s important to learn about a new city, a new country, when you first arrive," said Vidic. "For me, I remember when I first discovered fish and chips." The big Serbian retains his love of the famous food stuff, as he revealed to Sport magazine last year: "I really like the fish and chips. Not so much the peas, but I like the fish and chips."

SERGIO AGUERO: ARGENTINIAN MEAT

As all steak lovers know, Argentinian meat simply isn't the same as British meat and when you've grown up with a diet to be as good a player as Sergio Aguero, why change the habit of a lifetime? "Pablo Zabaleta's shown me a place where you can buy Argentinian meat, which helps," said Aguero after joining Man City. Aguero made friends with the chefs at Manchester's Gaucho restaurant and makes a habit of tucking away steak like he does goals.

DAVID BECKHAM: PIE AND MASH
Despite living in glamorous Hollywood, David Beckham remains an east end boy at heart. On the day of Gary Neville's testimonial match in May 2011, Becks revealed his passion for traditional East London grub. "'Landed back in London this morning," he wrote on his Facebook page. "Missed my favourite meal, so headed straight for some pie and mash." Just last week Beckham posted another picture of him back in his favourite cafe with another pie and two golden balls of mash. The former England captain is supposedly opening his own pie and mash shop with Gordon Ramsay - wonder if that will take off in LA?

Tom Huddlestone: TOMATO SAUCE

With Juande Ramos in charge at Tottenham, Tom Huddlestone was forced to bin his favourite condiment. "I miss ketchup with my chicken," said Huddlestone, reflecting on the Spanish gaffer's strict dietary regime. But it actually did him the world of good, as the 2007-08 season was arguably Huddlestone's best ever season, notching up four goals and eight assists.

Rio Ferdinand: NANDO'S

The unofficial restaurant of the Premier League (due to the attention Twitter's footballers give it) has no bigger fan than Rio. "When I come down to London by train, I always stop in at the Nando's in Euston for a bite," said the Man United defender. He's even got himself an exclusive Nando's Black Card, entitling him to free chicken as long as he keeps up this sort of thing on Twitter. "OMD this nandos is gonna get destroyed!" tweeted Ferdinand, in tribute to another of his trips to the Portuguese chain. Looking at United's recent defensive record, perhaps Rio should steer clear for a while.

Ashley Young: CURRIED GOAT

According to the official 2008 Aston Villa recipe book, 'Villa on a Plate', Man United winger Ashley Young loves nothing better than the Caribbean speciality curried goat. It also revealed that Man City's Gareth Barry and Sunderland manager Martin O'Neil swear by a roast dinner with all the trimmings, while West Ham striker John Carew is partial to a bowl of apple crumble.

Demba Ba revealing the secret ingredient to his success: