We can be cynical as easily as we like over the fast-tracking of Gary Neville into the hierarchy of the England team. We can ask if, for example, you were the new manager Roy Hodgson, would you rather have Red Nev at your side in the potential maelstrom of the European Championship – or lurking in a TV studio dreaming up the kind of line that hit David Luiz like an assassin's bullet?

He will be Hodgson's most acute reader of the mood of the England dressing room

For all the delights that qualify the next three afternoons at Chester as a defining ritual of the British Turf, it must be admitted that the city's racecourse was not especially designed with rain in mind. But then nor was it obviously designed for horseracing, either, this dizzy circuit crammed between the city walls and the River Dee – and that does not stop it being a roaring success.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, has raised the prospect of Rio Ferdinand joining Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes in the bracket of players who represent United deep into their thirties, as the club prepare to offer him a new contract.

United manager starts the psychological warfare in effort to derail City's title push

Including Jack Wilshere, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Ian Wright

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Ryan Giggs' astonishing career even eclipses that of legendary Italian Paolo Maldini.

There was much deliberation in the North-east yesterday morning – ironically at Sunderland's Academy of Light before Martin O'Neill's press briefing – about how many forwards Shola Ameobi had seen off in his 11 years at Newcastle.

Michael Owen insists Manchester United will not be taking tonight's clash against League Two Aldershot lightly as he sets his sights on another successful Carling Cup campaign with the Red Devils.

Wales rugby has a well deserved reputation for small-minded factionalism. Although England have recently proved themselves no slouches in this regard, the principality is still the benchmark, as this sour memoir demonstrates.

The players may be female but, when it comes to the managers, the Women's World Cup is a man's game.

Michael Owen has signed a new one-year contract to stay at Manchester United. The 31-year-old striker had expressed his desire to prolong his career at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson has sprung a major surprise by handing Michael Owen a one-year contract extension.