Former Everton defender Alan Stubbs has revealed that Lance Armstrong's successful battle with illness "inspired" him when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

The cyclist, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and given a lifetime ban from the sport due to years of doping, was cleared of cancer in 1997 following a year of treatment.

Two years later, Stubbs was diagnosed, resulting in the removal of his testicle, and had another operation 18 months later when a tumour appeared near to his spine.

"I read Lance Armstrong's book and it inspired me," Stubbs told the Daily Mail.

"I know what happened to him as a sportsman turned out to be very different but he still went through a horrible illness.

"He was a cheat as a sportsman but he could not cheat his illness. I respect him for fighting it, even though I don't respect him as a sportsman. I think you have got to separate the two."

Stubbs now works as part of the coaching staff at Everton.