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• Sporting director Ashworth leaves Manchester United

  Dan Ashworth has left his role as Manchester United's sporting director just five months after joining the club.

  United pushed hard for the highly rated Ashworth, who was in place at Newcastle United, and spent five months on gardening leave before officially starting with the Red Devils, who reportedly paid significant compensation to his former club.

  His first day on the job came on July 1, but now just five months later, he has left Old Trafford by mutual agreement.

  "We would like to thank Dan for his work and support during a transitional period for the club and wish him well for the future," a statement from the club read.

  Ashworth led United's recruitment drive over the summer as the club aimed to back Erik ten Hag, who they subsequently dismissed at the end of October.

  Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte were all brought in to boost United's senior squad.

  United lost 3-2 to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, as new boss Ruben Amorim suffered a second straight defeat, and his first at Old Trafford.

  That loss left United in 13th in the Premier League.

• Ancelotti confident Real Madrid are nearing their best

  Carlo Ancelotti is confident Real Madrid are making their way back to their best after their 3-0 victory over Girona.

  Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler and Kylian Mbappe were on target on Saturday, moving to within two points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona.

  Since losing 4-0 to Barca at the end of October, Madrid have won four of their last five LaLiga matches, with their sole defeat coming against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

  But Ancelotti feels his team are rediscovering their best form.

  "Bellingham has scored his fifth goal in a row. He's back and in good form. Mbappe scored too," he said.

  "We have to hang in there, little by little we're coming back.

  "We had to hold on at the beginning because Girona pushed hard. We did a good job collectively, and then we handled the advantage well. The team had more clarity and more ideas. I think the second half went very well."

  The Italian also praised Guler's performance after the Turkish youngster scored Madrid's second goal.

  "He wasn't good in the first half but in the second half he scored a fantastic goal," Ancelotti said.

  "What I want to highlight is his work. He runs a lot and helps the team. His goal takes a bit of pressure off him.

  "He's a young player with a lot of pressure around him and it's good for him to take a bit of pressure off."

  An injury to Bellingham was a cause for concern for Madrid, but Ancelotti allayed any major fears.

  "[Bellingham] is fine, he is available," said the Italian. "We've had the muscle injury to [Benjamin] Mendy but the rest of it is just knocks, nothing more,"

  Mbappe's goal brought up his 200th in the top five leagues, while Bellingham has scored in five consecutive league games in a single season for the first time.

• Blundell's ton fruitless as England seal series win

  Tom Blundell's scintillating century was not enough for New Zealand as England sealed a series win by wrapping up a 323-run victory inside three days.

  England resumed play at Basin Reserve on Sunday on 378-5, with Joe Root on 73.

  The tourist's former captain plundered his way to a 36th Test century, which he brought up with a reverse scoop from Will O’Rourke (1-104), who at least gained a measure of revenge when Root edged through to Blundell in the same over when on 106.

  Ben Stokes left himself unbeaten on 49 as he declared with England on 427-6, setting New Zealand a daunting 583 to win.

  Stokes' decision swiftly paid off, with Devon Conway (0), Kane Williamson (four) and Black Caps skipper Tom Latham (24) sent packing within the first 10 overs.

  Brydon Carse (2-53) dismissed Rachin Ravindra (six) in the 14th over, bringing Blundell to the crease.

  After being dropped when on a duck, Blundell offered resistance, smashing his way to a fifth Test ton in rapid time, though Daryl Mitchell (32) and Glenn Phillips (16) fell around him.

  Four of Blundell's five sixes came from Shoaib Bashir's bowling, but his stand came to an end when he edged the spinner through to Ben Duckett, who palmed the ball up to take the catch at the second attempt.

  That England breakthrough came in the 49th over of New Zealand's second innings, and it was game over by midway through the 55th, with Stokes rattling through the hosts' tail to finish with exceptional figures of 3-5, his best in over two years in a Test.

  Now 2-0 up in the three-match series, England will aim for a whitewash when the final Test begins in Hamilton next week.

  Data Debrief: Root ties for tons

  Root has now scored six Test centuries in 2024. No player has ever scored more than six tons for England in one calendar year, with Root himself having previously done so in 2021. Denis Compton - 1947, Michael Vaughan (2002) and Jonny Bairstow (2022) have also struck six hundreds in one year for England.

  His efforts helped England claim their biggest win in terms of runs against New Zealand, while this is their first series win in the country since 2008.

  The Black Caps, meanwhile, have now lost their last two Tests at Basin Reserve, having previously gone on a seven-match unbeaten run at the venue. It is the first time New Zealand have lost back-to-back matches in the longest format in Wellington since 2010.