When it comes to affairs of the heart, it really is a jungle out there. In our search for the perfect gentlemen, we have come across many frogs and it's not always easy to tell one from the other. From our experience, any of these is a definite warning sign.

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He takes ages to reply to your messages Sometimes people are just a bit lazy and distracted but if hours of silence between responses has become the norm for your new fella, we're willing to bet there's something else that's holding his attention... and we don't mean the Champions League. He only arranges dates on short notice It's been a few days since your last date and while you have tentative plans for the weekend, he keeps brushing off your attempts to lock down the specifics. Why? He's probably waiting for his other lady to confirm when she's available. Sad but true. If a guy wants to see you, he'll make firm plans. You don't know anything personal about him Many players don't like to think of themselves as bad guys so they'll keep you at a safe distance to make sure nobody could accuse them of leading you on. One of the best ways of doing this is keeping your convos to work chatter and witty banter so it can't be construed as 'anything serious'. All your dates involve alcohol If his idea of romance involves shooting you a text to meet him (and if he's really bad, his mates) for drinks on a Saturday night, then chances are he's not in it for the long haul. He doesn't ask specific questions Sure, there are expert players out there who remember all of the personal specifics of the girls they're dating but most won't. They'll keep questions general like 'how was work?' and 'how was your weekend' to cover up for the fact that they don't know whether you are a nurse or a nail technician. He may also call you 'babe' if he's forgotten your name. You've never met his friends We're not saying that you should know his life story after a few weeks but once things progress, it's normal to expect even a fleeting introduction to his mates. If not, he could be keeping you secret for a reason. He won't add you on Facebook Facebook is the Achilles Heel of the player. One stray tag in a photo or a suggestive comment on his status and his carefully constructed wall of cards coming falling down. He'll keep you out or on a limited profile at all costs. He's a bit too smooth If you're really into someone, it's normal to be a bit nervous. If someone has the Mr Lover Lover thing down to a fine art, we get suspicious. He's probably checking out other women over your shoulder and having a sneaky flirt while you're in the bathroom. He takes his phone EVERYWHERE Nobody wants someone going through their phone but if he's a player, he's going to be super protective. He'll bring it to the bar, the bathroom and make sure it's turned down when left on the table so you don't get a glimpse of any incoming messages. He's always busy on occasions Valentine's Day? Wedding invite? Festival weekend? He's busy... he's always busy. He also doesn't want to risk bumping into any of his other ladies at large communal gatherings. If he's continually avoiding long-term plans, it might be time to tell him to take a hike.