Alan Mullery labelled Sir Bobby Charlton “a gentleman, a friend and an amazing footballer” following the death of his former England team-mate.

Mullery played alongside Charlton in midfield in England’s attempted defence of their World Cup crown in 1970 and has fond recollections of the Manchester United great, who died on Saturday aged 86.

The former Albion boss, now club ambassador, said: “He was just a lovely man, you can’t get better. He was a gentleman, a friend and an amazing footballer.

“I ended up playing against Bobby Charlton and with him, it was a joy. It was a joy to be around him as a person and that never left him. He was just a true gentleman.”

Asked whether it was true he was told by then-England boss Sir Alf Ramsey to give the ball to Charlton as soon as possible in 1970, Mullery added: “Yes, absolutely. That’s all I had to do.

“I was happy to do that, I felt a great player with him. He was just special.”