Jamie Smith plundered a century as LV= Insurance County Championship leaders Surrey made Middlesex toil at Lord’s.
Smith was still there at the close on 120 alongside Jordan Clark on 34, with the visitors having reached 312 for five despite losing opener Dom Sibley for just three.
Tom Helm’s three for 86 helped to peg back some ground, but Surrey left the field the happier.
Former England captain Sir Alastair Cook hit an unbeaten 64 as Essex closed to within 101 of Kent with 10 wickets in hand after an eventful opening day at Chelmsford.
Jamie Porter and Sam Cook took three wickets each as the visitors, who elected to bat, were skittled out for just 207 in 59 overs, with opener Ben Compton’s 47 the most notable contribution.
Cook and Nick Browne got Essex’s reply off to a strong start to reach the close at 106 without loss.
George Balderson and Tom Bailey mounted a rearguard action against Warwickshire to edge Lancashire towards 300 with an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 145.
Number seven Balderson reached stumps six runs short of a century with number nine Bailey 75 not out to help the visitors to 295 for seven.
Nottinghamshire will resume against Hampshire trailing by 79 runs with five wickets in hand after an eventful day at Trent Bridge.
Brett Hutton, Dane Paterson and Lyndon James each took three wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 166.
However, Ian Holland claimed four for 19 in eight overs to reduce Nottinghamshire to 87 for five.
Northamptonshire seamer Jack White’s five-wicket haul could not prevent Somerset reaching the 350 mark.
White claimed five for 77 at the County Ground as the visitors were eventually dismissed for 351 with opener Sean Dickson top-scoring with 70 and George Bartlett making 55.
In Division Two, Derbyshire wicketkeeper Brooke Guest frustrated leaders Durham with a career-best 145 not out as the home side ended day one 317 for six after being put in.
Number three Guest hit 22 fours in an unbeaten 257-ball stay and put on 118 for the third wicket with Wayne Madsen, who made 62, before Durham skipper Scott Borthwick took two late wickets to edge his side back into it.
England spinner Rehan Ahmed provided some much-needed resistance as Leicestershire attempted to avoid a significant first-innings deficit against Worcestershire at Oakham.
Ahmed made 25 not out as the home side slumped to 88 for eight in response to the visitors’ total of just 178.
Matt Salisbury and Wiaan Mulder both took three Worcestershire wickets, but Dillon Pennington matched the feat at a cost of just 24 runs as the hosts crumbled.
Yorkshire’s Matthew Fisher took four for 53 as Sussex were reduced to 120 for six on a rain-affected day at Headingley.
Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Nathan McAndrew ended a day on which only 42 overs were bowled unbeaten on 29 and 25 respectively.
Stuart Broad admitted his “addiction” to Test cricket has carried him to 600 wickets, a prestigious milestone he savoured even more after reaching it at the end named after James Anderson.
The English pair are great friends, long-time opening bowling partners and now the only non-spinners to have got to the landmark, which has only been attained by three other people in history.
Broad’s moment came just after tea on day one of the fourth Ashes Test at Emirates Old Trafford, when Travis Head injudiciously hooked a bumper and Joe Root gobbled up a low catch in the deep.
“Never in my dreams did I think that would be a thing,” Broad said. “It’s got a nice ring to it, getting my 600th wicket from the James Anderson End. There’s something pretty special about that.”
After Australia closed on 299 for eight, Broad reflected on his insatiable ambition flourishing in the Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum axis, under whom he has taken 87 wickets in 14 Tests, having previously feared for his international future after being overlooked for the Caribbean tour in March 2022.
“I have definitely got an addiction to Test cricket and the competitive side of it,” Broad said. “Ultimately Baz and Stokesy have given me a new lease of life in a way.
“It is such a free changing room. There is no fear of failure or judgement, it’s about moving the game forward and that suits me. I owe a lot in the last 14 months to the way Baz and Stokes have brought energy to the group.
“I have been able to match that and move myself forward as a player. I have found it really enjoyable, I would argue it’s been the most enjoyable year of my Test career which is an awesome thing to say at 37 years old.”
The dismissal of Head was also significant for Broad as he moved to 149 Test wickets against Australia, a record for an England bowler, eclipsing the previous benchmark held by Sir Ian Botham.
Broad, a four-time Ashes winner, revealed his outlook was shaped by watching Australia’s dominance of England in the 1990s and early 2000s, ultimately snapped during a seminal series in 2005.
“I grew up completely obsessed watching Ashes cricket and I suppose that’s why some of my heroes are Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, some of the great Aussie team,” Broad said.
“As a kid you are influenced by winning sides. It also built up my steeliness to want to be part of England teams that could win the Ashes after going through a whole childhood without us lifting them.
“I probably grew up with a bit more of an Australian mindset rather than a sort of England mindset of the 90s.”
Broad has been an ever-present in these Ashes, having been expected to take more of a backseat due to the congested schedule, but he has risen to the challenge as the leading wicket-taker in the series.
“His statistics speak for themselves,” Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne said. “We know that if conditions are good for bowling, he’s always going to be a handful.
“But he’s shown through the series and through his career that when it’s not, he can still keep it tight, wait for his opportunity and work a batter out.”
Chris Woakes continues to excel on his Test return, following up a star all-round showing on his comeback at Headingley with figures of four for 52 that on another day would have taken top billing.
“An England Test side with Chris Woakes in England is a pretty formidable side,” Broad added. “He was exceptional and deserves five in the morning, hopefully.
“We all know what a talent Chris Woakes has been and what a servant he’s been to English cricket. He’s a pleasure to play with and knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s been exceptional since coming back in at Leeds.”
Liverpool have agreed a deal worth £12million plus add-ons to sell Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq, the PA news agency understands.
The 33-year-old is believed to have reached a verbal agreement with the club – who are now managed by former Anfield team-mate Steven Gerrard – over a reported wage of £700,000 a week.
The Reds captain has been in Germany with the team on their pre-season tour but was left out of Jurgen Klopp’s squad to face Karlsruhe in their first friendly on Wednesday.
He has made 491 appearances since signing for Liverpool from Sunderland for £20m in 2011 and skippered the side to the Premier League title and the Champions League.
He has also won the FA Cup and two League Cups.
Last week the England LGBT+ supporters group criticised Henderson as rumours of a move to Saudi Arabia circulated, with the midfielder having been a vocal ally of the LGBT+ community in football.
He wore rainbow laces during England’s run to the Euro 2020 final and has repeatedly voiced his support for greater inclusivity in the game.
Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death in the Gulf state.
A statement from the group read: “Our joy for Mr Henderson when he scored against Ukraine in the Euros (quarter-final) was, in part, due to his kindness and his ‘lucky’ rainbow laces.
“A banner was created to commemorate the low bar he had achieved in being outspoken on our right to support England & show visibility on the pitch.
“If the rumours are true, then that banner will be consigned to the depths of history.”
Inter Milan have announced the signing of former Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado.
The 35-year-old has joined Inter on a one-year deal after arriving at the San Siro on a free transfer.
Cuadrado was a free agent following the end of his Juventus contract this summer, after a successful spell at the club in which he won 11 trophies in eight years.
Cuadrado has also had spells in Italy with Udinese, Lecce and Fiorentina and made the move to Juve in 2017 permanent following a two-year loan spell from Chelsea.
“I’m delighted and would like to thank God for this opportunity. For me, it’s an honour to be here at one of the biggest teams in Europe. I’m happy,” Cuadrado told the Inter website.
“I had many offers, but Italy is a second home for me. My family is very attached to this country, and there was the opportunity to stay here and play for a big team with a fantastic history.
“I chose Inter because we all know what they represent on a global level. The important thing is for my family and I to feel good. We had the opportunity to remain in a place that, for us, is home. It’ll definitely be the best choice.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the biggest surprises in the NBA last season, and the team believes coach Mark Daigneault can help them take the next step.
Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti announced the team signed Daigneault to a multiyear extension on Wednesday.
Terms of the deal were not released.
The Thunder weren't expected to be particularly good in 2022-23 after finishing with the NBA's fourth-worst record in 2021-22, coupled with a foot injury suffered by No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren last summer forcing him to miss the entire season.
Daigneault, however, nearly directed Oklahoma City to a playoff berth, and he finished second in NBA Coach of the Year voting.
The Thunder went 40-42 in the regular season before beating the New Orleans Pelicans in a Play-In game. Oklahoma City's season ended with a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in a second Play-In game.
Their 16-win improvement from the 2021-22 season was the second-biggest jump in the NBA behind the Sacramento Kings' 18-win increase.
Daigneault is entering his fourth season at the helm at Oklahoma City after serving as a Thunder assistant in 2019-20 - the last season the team made the playoffs. Prior to working on the Thunder bench, he spent five seasons as head coach of the Oklahoma City Blue, the team's G League affiliate.
Next order of business for Daigneault is a playoff berth and series win - something the Thunder haven't achieved since 2015-16, when they lost to the Golden State Warriors in seven games in the Western Conference finals.
Stuart Broad joined Test cricket’s exclusive 600 club as he and Chris Woakes kept England’s hopes of a rousing Ashes comeback alive on day one at Emirates Old Trafford.
Three years after taking his 500th wicket at the same ground, Broad completed another century of scalps to join a hall of fame that includes only four other names: Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, team-mate James Anderson and Anil Kumble. Among fast bowlers, Anderson and Broad stand alone in the pantheon.
The 37-year-old dismissed the series’ top run-scorer Usman Khawaja early on and returned after tea to bounce out Travis Head as his landmark victim, overtaking Sir Ian Botham’s record of 148 wickets Australian wickets in the process.
But with England in do-or-die territory at 2-1 down heading into the fourth Test, the collective mission in Manchester was even more important than any personal achievements, guaranteeing Woakes a healthy share of the spotlight.
He bowled superbly all day to claim four for 52, with Australia finishing up on 299 for eight after being sent in by Ben Stokes.
Woakes picked up exactly where he left off in an excellent comeback performance at Headingley, picking off David Warner in the morning session before removing Australia’s dangerous duelling all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green in one outstanding over in the evening.
The pair were initially thought to be fighting for one place in the side but Australia surprisingly ditched their spinner Todd Murphy to find room for both. That beefed up their middle order but Woakes swept them both aside at an important moment in the evening session, trapping Green lbw as he hunched forward in defence and then having Marsh brilliantly caught behind.
England kept faith with Bairstow behind the stumps despite a series of costly misses in the first three Tests and got a measure of payback as he held on to an ankle-high nick, sprawling almost horizontally as he scooped the chance in front of first slip.
And it was Woakes who provided a late sting in the tail, taking out Alex Carey with the new ball to squash a vexing stand with Mitchell Starc.
Australia will rue a slightly sloppy day, full of batters getting out just as they looked set. Four of their top six were out between 41 and 51, with Warner making 32, but their failure to kick on could also be read as a testament to England’s dogged determination.
Stokes showed no hesitation in sending the opposition in first, a decision that appeared to be based partially on overcast skies and partially due to the prospect of a weekend washout.
The first of those factors began to change almost as soon as he made the call, with the clouds disappearing and the sun coming out.
Broad ensured England got on the board early, missing out on his nemesis Warner but sending the in-form Khawaja back for three after nailing him on the front pad from round the wicket.
There was no flurry of chances to follow, though, with Australia getting the better of the morning’s play as they posted a lunch total of 107 for two.
Woakes was the pick of the bowlers and picked up Warner just as his confidence started to grow, caught behind as he drove with hard hands.
England might have considered themselves unlucky not to get Labuschagne or Steve Smith early, with both starting awkwardly. Smith uncharacteristically hooked his first ball from Woakes towards fine-leg, but Mark Wood was a few yards in from the rope and missed out on what would otherwise have been a banker of a catch.
Both batters began to look more comfortable but were unable to impose themselves fully.
Smith (41) was undone by Wood’s extra pace, just too late on a 92mph ball that struck him dead in front, while Labuschagne’s relief at making a first half-century of the series evaporated instantly. Nudging forward to a Moeen Ali teaser that gripped off the surface and snuck past the inside edge, he was on his way.
With a tangible hint of first day turn, Australia may well have been ruing their own decision to go with no specialist spinner for the first time in 120 Tests.
Broad’s magic moment came after tea when he followed the team plan to bowl short at Head, digging in a short ball that was flapped obligingly to Root in the deep. The cheers belonged to Broad, cementing his status as one of England’s most enduring Ashes combatants, but the hard work continued.
Marsh, fresh from a fluent century in the third Test, unloaded a 56-ball fifty before he became the second part of Woakes’ double in the 63rd over. Carey, welcomed by the now customary boos, guided Starc through a 39-run partnership in the closing stages before he perished to the fresh Dukes.
Attempting to offer no stroke, he grazed Woakes through to Bairstow as England moved within two wickets of completing the job.
Tadej Pogacar conceded defeat to Jonas Vingegaard in the fight for yellow as Felix Gall beat Simon Yates to victory on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
While Gall and Yates fought out stage honours from the breakaway in Courchevel, the overall battle in this Tour was effectively decided on the mighty Col de la Loze at the end of the 166km stage from Saint-Gervais.
Having shown cracks in Tuesday’s time trial, Pogacar crumbled on this punishing 28km climb which peaks at 2,304 metres, losing the wheels with eight kilometres to the summit as the time gaps ballooned before the finish.
“I’m gone,” Pogacar told his team on the radio as he watched his rival ride away. “I’m dead.”
The Slovenian trailed Vingegaard by just 10 seconds on Monday’s rest day. When Vingegaard took 98 seconds out of the two-time Tour winner in Tuesday’s time trial it looked massive, but a day later the gap on the road was almost six minutes, the difference overall now seven-and-a-half minutes.
While Pogacar crossed the line taking a consoling arm around the shoulder from team-mate Marc Soler, the usually reserved Vingegaard allowed himself a more vigorous celebration with his team.
With only one mountain stage remaining, as long as the Dane makes it to Paris on Sunday, he will surely win his second consecutive Tour crown.
Having said he was surprised with his own performance on Tuesday, Vingegaard was shocked by the situation 24 hours later.
“Of course we are super, super happy,” he said. “It’s hard to describe. To have more than seven minutes is really incredible.
“Of course the Tour de France is not over. I’m sure Tadej will try something on the last three stages so we have to keep fighting. We’re not in Paris yet.”
Pogacar’s form coming into the Tour had been an open question given his lack of racing since breaking his wrist in April. For two weeks he kept the gap tantalisingly close, but the third week has proven too much.
“I don’t know (what happened),” said Pogacar, who played down a small crash early on the stage. “I tried to eat as much as possible but nothing goes to my legs, it stays in my stomach. I was really empty after three and a half hours, really empty at the bottom.
“If I didn’t have such great support I was thinking I would lose the podium but I was fighting with Marc and I’m grateful to my team-mates…
“I must say today was one of the worst days of my life on the bike but I had to keep fighting to the finish. I hope to recover now and then we can go for another stage on stage 20. I think it’s going to be a good stage if I have good legs.”
As soon as the 24-year-old radioed in his concession, team-mate Adam Yates was told to protect his third place overall and the Lancastrian put time into Carlos Rodriguez to solidify his podium spot, now 76 seconds up on the young Spaniard and three minutes behind Pogacar.
Up ahead, Gall attacked from the remains of a 34-strong breakaway. Simon Yates did his best to chase down the Austrian but could not quite bridge the gap and came in 30 seconds down, his second runner-up finish of the Tour after being beaten by twin brother Adam on stage one in Bilbao.
“I didn’t know the climb but I don’t know if I would change anything,” the Jayco-Alula rider said. “I was wary of the altitude so I tried to pace myself. I think I’ve done a good ride.
“Chapeau to Felix, that was a great ride but I’m pretty happy with my ride.
“It’s a shame I couldn’t win but that’s how it goes.”
Ann Duffield’s Catterick course specialist Quercus brought up a fourth success at the track with an all-the-way win under Joe Fanning in the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery Handicap.
Racing off bottom weight, it was a canny bit of placing by Duffield, winning a 0-80 with the 56-rated six-year-old.
Only eight were declared and two of those ended up as non-runners and Fanning was happy to take up a prominent early position, and he was allowed an easy time on the front end.
Oso Rapido, winner of the race 12 months ago and the 100-30 favourite to repeat the trick, came with a late rattle but went down by a head.
“The track here suits him, quirky Quercus we call him, but he is actually really genuine, he just likes this track,” said Duffield.
“He did have the option of the five-furlong race on the card but over six he gets to go round the bend, which he loves.
“We’ll have a look in the book and see when we can come back here, there’s a chance he might be back next week under a penalty.
“They left him alone in front, which he loves, and Joe is obviously brilliant in front.”
Grant Tuer’s Bellarchi (4-1) needed seven attempts to open her account but the consistent filly finally managed it in the British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes.
Placed in all but one of her previous six outings, and that was in Listed company and York, She was certainly deserving of her success.
Another to make all, she was sent for home under Sam James fully two furlongs out and held off Willolarupi by a length.
Tuer said: “She deserved to win one and she’s been good from day one.
“I was actually a little bit disappointed she didn’t win on her debut at Thirsk.
“She’s straightforward, she jumps and runs, she’s got a great mind and she knows her job – a great horse for a syndicate (Nick Bradley).
“We’ve bumped into one or two along the way but the only moderate race she’s run was in the Marygate at York, when she probably should have finished fourth or fifth and to this day I don’t know why she ran so badly, but she pretty much has run to the same mark every other time.”
Fresh from his Group One-winning exploits in the July Cup on Shaquille, Rossa Ryan made the journey north and was rewarded with a double, both trained by Ralph Beckett.
Campaign Trail was sent off the 2-5 favourite in the Watch Racing TV Now Restricted Maiden Stakes and had little trouble in seeing off two rivals.
Diamond Vega (2-1 favourite) was made to a work a little harder in the Download The Vickers.Bet App Handicap but ultimately ran out a cosy two-length winner.
Billy Garrity brought Slingsbytoo (10-1) with a wide late run to win the racingtv.com Handicap for Mick and David Easterby.
Though there has been no official word on the outcome of previous negotiations between horsemen and promoting company Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), both parties seem to have found common ground for the most parts, as live racing is set to return to Caymanas Park on Saturday by way of a six-race card.
This follows the cancellation of races on July 15 and 16, after the Patrick Smellie-led United Racehorse Trainers' Association of Jamaica (URTAJ) opted not to nominate as a show of their discontent to the promoting company’s offer of a $27-million purse increase.
Following a meeting on Monday, Smellie and a majority of his counterparts declared intentions to again withhold nominations, if SVREL doesn’t offer a more attractive purse increase, which all but signalled the possibility of another cancelled race day.
However, a meeting between representatives of the Howard Hamilton-led Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) and the promoting company, also held on Monday, seemingly broke the deadlock.
The owners' group during that meeting, recommended that SVREL’s overpayment of taxes on $6.2 billion in sales initially reported, amounting to what should be approximately $41.7 million in rebates, be put to purse money for 2023, along with the $18 million Quarterly Incentive payments to owners, trainers, jockeys and grooms.
Additionally, TOBA suggested that a three per cent commission earned from inter-tote wagering on local racing, could also be allotted to purses and they also required a full disclosure of SVREL’s arrangement with BetMakers as it relates to fixed-odds betting, with a view that a percentage of those profits should also put to purses going forward.
While SVREL chairman Solomon Sharpe and members of his team had requested time to take those recommendations into consideration, the nomination of horses to allow for this weekend's short programme, implies that some inroads have been made.
But Smellie when contacted, pointed out that he is not aware of any changes where their demands for a more substantial increase is concerned. As such, he expressed strong disappointment with his colleagues who nominated horses.
“I don't know what changed. Nothing has changed between us and Supreme Ventures Racing, so I'm very disappointed in about 50 per cent of the trainers that nominated horses, I don't think they know where we are going. We were fighting for something for the benefit of all grooms, trainers, owners, and horsemen at Caymanas Park,” a vexed Smellie said.
“Never in the history of Caymanas Park we had so much people together, but I understand that there was some rumours going around that Howard Hamilton had said on national radio that people must nominate. So somebody started that rumour and got some weak knee trainers jumping and I guess they started to nominate. So, to say disappointed is an understatement,” he added.
Still, the URTAJ president took heart from the fact that his group and those it represents, achieved its objective in making a statement.
“We have observed the myopic thinking of the promoters and some of these trainers. So we are here, we are going to gather again and have a meeting shortly and see where we move from here because if they want to race for 3.5 percent increase then they can do so.
“I thank all the trainers and owners that stood up and fight the cause because those other four races could have been filled if these guys didn't stand up and fight for what they believe in,” Smellie argued.
Manchester City have accepted a bid worth up to £30million for Riyad Mahrez from Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli, the PA news agency understands.
The Algeria international has consequently been given permission to miss the treble winners’ pre-season tour of Asia.
Mahrez, 32, is now set to discuss terms ahead of a potential move to the Jeddah-based Saudi Pro League outfit. Reports have suggested he has been offered a three-year contract.
The former Leicester winger was not included in the 25-man City squad due to leave for Japan and South Korea on Wednesday.
Mahrez had two years remaining on a contract which he extended last summer but had reportedly been frustrated with a lack of game time in the treble-winning 2022-23 campaign.
Mahrez made just 22 Premier League starts last term and was an unused substitute in the finals of both the FA Cup and Champions League.
He joined City in a £60million deal from Leicester in 2018 having helped the Foxes to win the Premier League two years previously. He went on to win the title four more times with Pep Guardiola’s side.
Donny van de Beek celebrated a “big moment” after the Manchester United midfielder returned from a long-term knee injury to score the winner in a 1-0 pre-season victory over Lyon at Murrayfield.
The Netherlands international had not played since suffering a knee problem in United’s win at Bournemouth on January 3.
He has struggled to establish himself since arriving at Old Trafford from Ajax, where he played under United boss Erik ten Hag, in the summer of 2020 and has been linked with a move away from the Red Devils this summer.
“It was great. My first game after six months. I don’t have to tell you after such an injury, such a mentally difficult period for me and my family, to be back on the pitch was great and it is nice if you score a goal,” Van de Beek told MUTV.
“It is amazing because I have been looking forward to this moment for months. I know it is just a friendly game but for me it is a big moment.”
United started brightly with three big chances inside five minutes, with Antony denied by Anthony Lopes before Amad Diallo dragged a shot wide and had another parried away by the Lyon goalkeeper.
Van de Beek was one of 11 changes made at half-time and his goal came just four minutes later as he latched on to youngster Dan Gore’s chipped cross from the right to volley first time into the top corner.
Jonny Evans played the second half for United having returned to the club on a short-term deal.
The 35-year-old academy graduate, who won three Premier League titles and the Champions League at Old Trafford before leaving in 2015, will join the squad on their pre-season tour of the USA.
“He came to train with us, to work on his fitness and not all the players are in – internationals are out, still having their break – so I thought it was a good idea to help each other out,” Ten Hag said. “Jonny can work on his fitness and he can help us out.
“The level, we know he is a really experienced player but also a very good person, a big personality and I think he has big authority as well. He will help the young players especially. It is a benefit for both sides.”
After the match, Ten Hag added: “You can see he is a fine character, he is a leader. He understands football. He really contributed to the good performance of the team in the second half.”
Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has told both Harry Maguire and Mason Greenwood to leave Old Trafford.
Maguire was stripped of the captaincy last week in seemingly another move by manager Erik ten Hag that shows the England defender is not central to his set-up moving forward.
The 30-year-old started just eight Premier League games last season and may feel he needs to land a move away from United if he is to stay at the forefront of Gareth Southgate’s plans ahead of Euro 2024.
West Ham have reportedly shown an interest in signing Maguire, with Rooney of the belief the ex-Leicester player should consider calling time on his days at United, telling The Athletic: “To have the armband taken off you, how does he move forward with the club?
“That shows the manager really doesn’t believe in him. It leaves Harry in a position where he has to think on what he does moving forward.
“The manager has shown he is not part of the plans. I’m sure Harry will want to go and play – for himself, for his England career – to put himself in the best position to be as successful as he can. The best thing now is probably for him to move.”
Greenwood’s situation is very different to Maguire’s – the 21-year-old still unable to play as an internal investigation is carried out.
The Crown Prosecution Service ended its case against Greenwood for attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour but his future as a footballer – especially at United – remains in doubt.
“It leaves Mason Greenwood in a position where he is stuck,” Rooney said of the one-cap England forward.
“So for Mason, it’s a bad position to be in because I’m sure he just wants to play football. But for the club, its image and ensuring they make the right decisions, it’s almost a catch-22. I think the best thing for Mason now is to get out of the club and go and develop somewhere else.
“He needs to get back playing because it has been a long time – it’s probably got to a place now where Mason just needs to go and play and to try and get his career back on track.”
Tadej Pogacar conceded defeat to Jonas Vingegaard in the fight for yellow as Felix Gall beat Simon Yates to victory on stage 17 of the Tour de France in Courchevel.
While Gall and Yates fought out stage honours from the breakaway, the overall battle in this Tour was effectively decided on the mighty Col de la Loze, the highest mountain of this year’s race, at the end of this 166km stage from Saint-Gervais.
Having shown cracks in Tuesday’s time trial, Pogacar crumbled on this punishing 28km climb, losing the wheels still with eight kilometres remaining to the summit as he watched his rivals ride away without even needing to attack, the time gaps ballooning before the finish.
“I’m gone,” Pogacar told his team on the radio as he watched his rival ride away. “I’m dead.”
The Slovenian, involved in a minor crash at the start of the stage, had trailed Vingegaard by just 10 seconds on Monday’s rest day.
When Vingegaard took 98 seconds out of the two-time Tour winner in Tuesday’s time trial it looked massive, but a day later the gap on the road was almost six minutes, the difference overall now seven-and-a-half minutes.
While Pogacar crossed the line taking a consoling arm around the shoulder from team-mate Marc Soler, the usually reserved Vingegaard allowed himself a more vigorous celebration with his team. As long as the Dane makes it to Paris on Sunday, he will surely win his second consecutive Tour.
Pogacar’s form coming into the Tour had been an open question given his lack of racing since breaking his wrist in April. For two weeks he had kept the gap at the top tantalisingly close, but the third week has proven too much.
As soon as the 24-year-old radioed in his concession, his team-mate Adam Yates was told to ride on in order to protect his third place overall, and the Lancastrian put time into Carlos Rodriguez to solidify his podium spot, now 76 seconds up on the young Spaniard and three minutes behind Pogacar.
Up ahead, Gall had attacked from the remains of a 33-strong breakaway that had, for much of the day, been as big as what counted as the peloton. Simon Yates did his best to chase down the Austrian but could not quite bridge the gap and came in 30 seconds down.
It was a second runner-up finish of the Tour for Simon Yates, who was narrowly beaten by his twin brother Adam on the opening stage in Bilbao. His consolation prize this time was moving up from eighth to fifth overall.
Gall, making his Tour debut, delivered a first win of this year’s race for the AG2R Citroen team, having unexpectedly taken over the leadership role within the squad after Ben O’Connor’s overall ambitions faded in the first week.
“I don’t know what to say,” the 25-year-old said. “This whole year has been incredible and now to do so well in the Tour and to win the queen stage it’s incredible. I just want to say thank you to the team, they have given me so much.
“It’s not easy to do a three-week stage race and then to also have the role of leader after a few days, I slowly focused on that and I was stressing myself about that, it’s not easy but the last few days I’ve been more comfortable. I was afraid I would be caught in the last kilometre but it’s incredible.”
David Evans hopes the ground will be in Rohaan’s favour as the consistent sprinter bids for a fourth Group-race success in the bet365 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
Bought for 20,000 guineas in October 2020, the Mayson gelding has proven to be a real money-spinner, winning nine times in 29 races for Evans.
He has climbed from basement-level handicaps on the all-weather to securing back-to-back successes in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and a Group Two victory at Haydock.
Plans were hatched to head to both Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia last winter, but those ideas had to be shelved by the Monmouthshire handler when the gelding suffered a setback.
Winner of over £400,000, Rohaan was almost retired before striking late at Royal Ascot under Ryan Moore last summer, having previously suffered a dip in form.
He went on to add the Group Three Bengough Stakes at Ascot to his second Wokingham triumph.
While he has yet to show the same level of form that also saw him placed in the Sprint Cup at Haydock and sign off in October with a close-up fourth to Kinross in the British Champions Sprint, Evans feels he is getting there.
The five-year-old has had three runs this term, the last of which saw him beaten three lengths by The Big Board in a valuable five-furlong Ascot handicap last weekend.
Evans said: “After his injury, he took a couple of runs to get himself in peak condition and to have the confidence to let himself go like he did the other day.
“I only ran him there just to finish a race off. Hopefully he’ll have a good chance as he goes back up to six furlongs.
“Let’s hope the ground doesn’t go too quick. It is still saying good, good to soft.
“Hopefully Newbury will have a shower to freshen it up. I don’t think it will be fast ground anyway and he should go there with a decent chance – he was only beaten a length and three-quarters in it last year.”
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