Olympian Jessica Ennis says it's time Nick Matthew, England squash No 1, was recognised for achievements He is a very disciplined person and to play at the level he does he has to be very fit. I am not an expert on squash but know that it is hard. Both Ennis and Matthew have lashings of Yorkshire grit and perseverance in abundance, traits purchased while training alongside each other at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. Indeed, the pair were the first - alongside now-retired diver Leon Taylor - to train there when the EIS first opened its doors in 2003. "We were working out when the paint was still drying," said Matthew, 32. There would be the early mornings and windy days on the track and then we would share the same sports therapist, Derry Suter. We still sometimes turn up 10 minutes before each other's session just to see how much pain each other is going through. I think it is the only time each of us is ever quiet. Having turned pro in 1998, Matthew has spent only seven months outside the top 10 since 2004. That was down in part to a hectic playing schedule, causing a major injury to his right shoulder in 2008. He was subsequently out of action for eight months, hence the rankings" drop. Matthew tentatively returned to the world tour after the EIS nurtured him back to health. In 2010, he won 28 matches in a row and landed eight tournament wins, including his first world title. The current world No 2 has featured at the business end ever since. Ennis, whose fiancé Andy Hill is a keen squash player, said: "There is a great support system at the EIS - we have access to an excellent medical team - but the credit must go to Nick and his coach for ensuring that they got what they needed and for his tenacity in coming back." To highlight squash's lack of exposure, Matthew recently went to Suter's wedding with Ennis where the heptathlete was kept busy with a stream of requests by her fellow guests. "Jess must have had 116 photos taken with the 120 guests and I had none!" recalled Matthew. Despite her fame, Matthew says, Ennis is still as "grounded as they come," recalling the time when she asked Suter for a squash racket for then-boyfriend Hill, instead of going through Matthew. "She was too shy to ask me straight off," said Matthew, "but that's just how polite and down to earth she is as a person and athlete." So, with the first season-opening tournament looming in New York at the end of the month, can Matthew maintain his drive at the top after the obvious disappointment of missing out in Doha? "I have proved I can still perform at the highest level," said Matthew, "but how often and to what extent will depend on how hungry I still am. In Doha I think I was too hungry. Looking back on my performances I was too emotionally charged which led me to be too confrontational at times, both with my opponents and the referees. A New Year's resolution of mine if you like is to try to channel this hunger, with more composed performances under intense pressure. Matthew The Warrior Mark Bawden is EIS's respected psychologist with the England cricket team and has worked with Matthew since 2009. "He is a real warrior," he said. He can win a lot of games by fighting it out to the death. We tried to change that mindset. It was an 8/10 trait. But he had massive capacity for this to grow into one of his best attributes.