The West Ham defender was told he needed surgery to solve a calf problem — the latest in a long line of injuries he has suffered.

But Upson refused to go under the knife and found a medical expert who told him to stuff torn-up phone book pages into his boots.

The centre-half played just 41 minutes of football after a £8million move from Birmingham last January.

But he is the only Hammer to appear in every game this season.

Upson spent hours on the internet in search of a surgery-free solution and found Ron Holder, a South African who has helped a host of sportsmen.

Upson explains: “I’d had various treatments on the calf which had all failed.

“But Ronald specialises in kinesiology, applying it to sports medicine.

“He is fantastic and the best person I have ever worked with.

“Kinesiology is to do in part with the feet and how all different parts of your feet relate to different parts of your body.”

Upson was ‘cured’ after a two-hour consultation with Holder — paid for out of his own pocket.

He added: “As your body adjusts, he’ll take the papers out bit by bit from my boots.

“I wear them inside my trainers, in my normal shoes and even if I am wearing flip flops.”