One of the fittest players ever to grace the game, he would resist the temptation to eat treats, such as some extra butter on his toast or a bar of Dairy Milk, in order to push himself on the field.
He told that latest episode of UTD Podcast that, if he achieved his goals, he would allow himself the odd luxury and a taste of the chocolate he would crave.
Ryan was also on another bonus for hitting the back of the net, in a tradition that dated back to his early days with the Reds: the gift of £1 from a kindly steward.