The late great Stanley Matthews once said: "The problem the players have from clubs outside London is when you get the England call up.
"You mix with all the high-flyers from the capital and they brag about what they have and the money they are earning.
"It can be an eye-opener, and some try and coax you to the bright lights. But London was never for me, although I can tell you some who were attracted to the playboy image."
So where am I going with this?
Connor Wickham has been named in Stuart Pearce's England Under-21 squad for the upcoming European Championships in Israel.
However, Di Canio revealed motivating the 20-year old is sometimes very difficult, despite his obvious talent.
Paulo Di Canio: "Maybe, with this guy, I have to slap his face a little bit.
"I'm talking about motivating him in a genuine way because he has so much potential.
"But sometimes he comes in and he seems to be looking around saying, 'Where am I?' I want to say, 'You are on the football pitch, with the grass'."