Gravesen stamps his midfield mark

Square-jawed, barrel-chested and with a handshake that grips like a vice, Thomas Gravesen is no pushover in any contest for midfield supremacy.

Everton's battle-hardened Denmark international hardly needs any reassuring about the physical attributes that have helped him overcome many an adversary for club and country.

At least one admirer could not suppress his appreciation of Gravesen's combative qualities, however, and left the player almost lost for words when revealing himself as none other than Mike Tyson.

The former world heavyweight boxing champion now has a Denmark shirt worn by Gravesen as a

souvenir and a mark of his respect. The unlikely alliance came about two weeks ago when Tyson, in Copenhagen for his fight with Brian Nielsen, decided to take in Denmark's World Cup qualifier with Iceland.

Gravesen, 25, had just settled a difference of opinion with three Iceland players by leaving them on the seat of their pants when Iron Mike decided he had seen enough midfield steel to place his regard for the uncompromising midfielder on record.

After emerging from another barnstorming performance at the heart of Everton's midfield, Gravesen revealed how he found favour with Tyson in the 6-0 rout of Iceland.

'Apparently, he was a bit impressed with the way I played,' said Gravesen. 'I'd like to think it was down to the two goals I scored, but I was told that what he really liked was my attitude to the game and the way I looked after myself.

'But it still came as a massive surprise afterwards when he said he wanted my shirt. It gave me a real lift to think that the great Mike Tyson wanted my jersey as a souvenir.'

Everton were in danger of a knock-out themselves against Aston Villa as, after cruising 3-0 ahead through Steve Watson, Tomasz Radzinski and Gravesen, they were pegged back by goals from Mustapha Hadji and Peter Schmeichel.