Sport

The 29-year-old Manchester rower, from Altrincham, was forced to bring his career to a premature end after being diagnosed with overtraining syndrome in February.

Lancashire paceman James Anderson has been selected by fans in the all-time English cricket test side XI ahead of the country’s 1,000th match starting this week.

The World Cup means football’s traditional summer recess seems barely to have happened, and it is just a matter of days before the new Premier League season gets underway.

Later this month Natasha will be riding in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 46 as part of her PruGOals programme but as a homeless teenager just six years ago nothing was further from her mind.

The 25-year-old from Stockport, alongside Wythenshawe twins Emma and Victoria Bradburn, have been recognised for their volunteering work with selection for the new TSB Young Leaders programme, launched at Old Trafford in July.

Chorley Seahawks were helped by the Seattle Seahawks’ Neiko Thorpe as they won the annual NFL Flag football tournament in London.

Holly Bradshaw had to dig deep to rediscover her love for pole vaulting but the fire is now burning bright inside the 26-year-old who is confident of getting back to her best.

Words rarely fail England seamer Mark Wood but even he struggles to explain the ability that wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler possesses.

After progressing to the semi-finals of the World Cup, Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions have a golden opportunity to make the final in Moscow on Sunday.

MM looks back over the list of our city’s bad boys – players with local links who found themselves in handcuffs at one stage or another during their career.

England take on Sweden tomorrow with spirits high both in Russia… and at home.