Best's recipe for health

George Best with the chefs on Celebrity Ready Steady Cook

George Best is having meals from his favourite restaurant delivered to his hospital bed as he recovers from pneumonia.

The soccer star, who has been in a private ward in Belfast City Hospital since 2 February, has enjoyed shellfish and other freshly prepared food from Grace Neill's in Donaghadee in County Down.

The chef and owner Stephen Jeffers said George and his wife Alex were frequent visitors to the restaurant.

Stephen said: "I know the sort of style of food he likes so I make a little surprise up for him every day."

George, 54, may be a fan of fine food but also enjoys the home cooked variety too.

He told a reporter from his official website he was looking forward to a "nice piece of fresh fish cooked by my wife Alex".

Speaking publicly for the first time since he fell ill he also said he had been advised to put his health first and cut down on engagements.

George's wife Alex Best

As far as his illness went he was "looking forward to being over the worst of it" and to watching the Chelsea v Manchester United game this weekend.

"After that, I hope I'll be well enough to resume my work schedule, although I have been advised to limit my diary and put my health first", he said.

Earlier this week, George appeared in a repeat screening of the BBC1 cookery programme Celebrity Ready Steady Cook recorded for Euro 2000 last year.

He told presenter Ainsley Harriott he enjoyed all kinds of food from all over the world.

Hospital food is clearly the exception!

Stay off alcohol

George's latest health scare follows liver problems last year.

In March, the former Manchester United player was admitted to hospital in west London for treatment and warned to stay off alcohol for good.

He has been living a quiet life with his wife at their home near the County Down fishing village of Portavogie.

Although he still works as sports analyst for Sky, he is said to have put the playboy lifestyle which cut short his football career firmly behind him.