When Tom Pope headed an equaliser for Port Vale in their FA Cup third round tie against Manchester City on Saturday evening, it escalated the retweets on a post he had sent last summer.
While watching England play in the Nations League, Pope suggested that if he was to play against John Stones every week, he'd score 40 a season.
On Saturday, Stones formed part of the Man City defence along with 17-year-old Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Post-match, Pope was invited into the City dressing room.
"They all dragged me in, the Man City players, but John wouldn't speak to me," the 34-year-old is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.
"It was a little bit awkward. I shook his hand but he wasn't too happy."
Man City went on the win the game 4-1. Pope was happy just to see his side emerge with some credit against the Premier League team.
"It was only banter and people have dug it up because we've drawn Man City," said Pope.
"All of a sudden it's everywhere and people have been on my case about it.
"He's a world-class centre-half. I was just saying he wasn't very physical and that's it. If people think I'm wrong, well, I don't care.
"I spoke to [Benjamin] Mendy and he said all their players had battered him for weeks about it and they got him that wound up about it, and then obviously I've scored and he's probably devastated.
"But I was just hoping I got a half chance to try to put one away. The last thing you want to do is get beaten 7-0 after everything that's gone on Twitter, not score and everyone laugh.
"It was nice to shut a few people up to back up what I said but it's water off a duck's back. I wasn't too bothered about it either way."
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