Stoke City's studious midfielder Olofinjana does the drill

Stoke midfielder Seyi Olofinjana is taking a degree course in sub sea engineering so he can eventually work on oil rigs when he hangs up his boots.

It is the second course for the 28- year-old Nigerian, who already has a masters degree in chemical engineering.

But to ensure he will never suffer the poverty he witnessed growing up in Lagos, Africa’s most populous city, the £3million summer signing from Wolves is about to embark on another stint of studying and has signed up for a distance learning course at Aberdeen University.

Success will allow him to seek a job with an offshore oil exploration team after his football career.

‘Maybe if I was born in England I would not have tried to take degrees,’ said Seyi, whose name translates as ‘God made this’.

‘But back home things are not very rosy and even though I could play football, I needed something to fall back on.

'Football is not forever. At 35 you retire and I want something to be able to do in another career.’

As he prepared for today’s trip to Middlesbrough, Olofinjana insists that hitting the books will not affect his ability to play a major part in Stoke’s bid to establish themselves in the Premier League.

He said: ‘I’ve studied and played before and I managed to juggle the two. It’s something I’m used to.’