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Owen in goals pledge

MICHAEL Owen has vowed to repay the debt he owes Sir Alex Ferguson with a goal bonanza.

A shock whirlwind transfer took just 48 hours from start to finish and sees the 29-year-old striker land a two-year Old Trafford deal.

Blues step up Eto'o efforts

BARCELONA are finally ready to smooth the path for Samuel Eto'o to join City.

Joan Laporta, Barca's president, has indicated he is willing to show flexibility over the compensation wrangle at the heart of the Eto'o saga.

Wimbledon: Murray crashes out

ANDY Murray's Wimbledon dream was shattered as he lost in four sets to Andy Roddick in the semi-finals.

The British number one and tournament third seed was beaten 6-4 4-6 7-6 (9/7) 7-6 (7/5) by the big-serving American.

Salford 20 St Helens 10

Stefan Ratchford touched down twice and was inspirational throughout as struggling Salford recorded a famous victory over engage Super League leaders St Helens.

The rangy half-back, 21 later this month, claimed his two tries in the first 10 minutes and full-back John Wilshere converted both to put the Reds 12-0 up.

Terry bid rejected

CITY have had a £30million bid for England captain John Terry rejected by Chelsea.

As revealed by M.E.N. Sport on Monday, Blues owner Sheikh Mansour and manager Mark Hughes both wanted to bring the 28-year-old centre-back to Eastlands.

United sign Owen

Michael Owen has sealed his shock move to Manchester United.

The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and England striker completed a series of stringent medical tests this evening and has signed a two-year deal with the champions.

Moores calls for patience

PETER Moores has called for patience from Lancashire supporters after his side staved off a third County Championship defeat on the spin at Trent Bridge today.

The Red Rose only had to bat for 27 overs to claim a nine-point LV Division One draw against Nottinghamshire after rain ruined the final day.

Amir out to have final say

AMIR Khan has cranked up his war of words with Andreas Kotelnik - promising to teach the Ukranian a boxing lesson.

Khan hopes to win his first world title next month when he takes on the WBA light-welterweight champion.

Skipper stirs up Salford

SKIPPER Mal Alker today tried to deflect the focus away from Richard Myler by calling for Salford to finish the season on a high.

The Reds have not won since they beat Bradford at home in May and look up against it once more tonight when they take on St Helens at the Willows.

Sheridan in for final Test

SALE Sharks' Andrew Sheridan will make his full Lions Test debut on Saturday with Ian McGeechan ringing the changes.

The prop came on as a replacement during last week's second Test, but with Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones both injured, Sheridan will start against the Springboks for the third and final Test at Ellis Park.

Pat calls time on world bid

PATRICK Hougaard lives his life in the fast lane but even Belle Vue's rapidly rising star will run out of time this weekend.

The 19-year-old Dane has been forced to withdraw from his semi-final qualifier for the 2010 World Championship Grand Prix after going close to having to be in two places at once.

Live: French Open

England’s Steve Webster moved into contention for the French Open in Paris today - one week after spending five hours in hospital because of an eye injury.

The 34-year-old, hit by a loft door as he helped his father, fired a six-under-par 65 at Le Golf National to reach halfway on the eight-under-par total of 134.

Notts v Lancs - Day three

LANCASHIRE are staring at a third straight County Championship defeat, and will have to cure their batting woes if they are to repel a potent Nottinghamshire attack on the final day at Trent Bridge today.

The Red Rose county were asked to begin their unlikely pursuit of 393 for victory, reaching 22-1 after six overs last night.

Wilkinson confident over Barton

SALFORD City fans have been assured by chairman John Wilkinson the move to a new stadium at Barton by 2011 will definitely happen.

Wilkinson says the scheme is not in jeopardy and, ideally, he wants the Reds to spend just one more season in Super League before moving.

Nick keeps up momentum

Shaw Hill's Nick Dougherty was right in contention as the French Open began at Le Golf National near Paris today.

Dougherty, riding high after his victory at the BMW International Open in Munich, was on five under, just four shots behind the leader, Germany's Martin Kaymer.

Sharks to offer Bishop a chance

SALE Sharks have handed a potential career lifeline to injury-plagued former Ospreys centre David Bishop.

The highly rated 25-year-old made his comeback last September after almost three years out with a fractured knee-cap but despite being a regular towards the end of the Welsh club's Magners League campaign, was surprisingly released by Ospreys in May.

Santa Cruz: Blues have top four mentality

ROQUE Santa Cruz admitted he got frustrated at times waiting for the chance to work with Mark Hughes again.

Santa Cruz became Hughes’ second major summer signing last week when he completed an £18million move from Blackburn.

Strauss focus on discipline

ANDREW Strauss has denied suggestions that high-profile players within England's ranks are given special treatment and insists every member of the squad is treated the same.

The claims come after Andrew Flintoff was disciplined by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for missing Saturday morning's team bus to an outing in Belgium, in which players visited the trenches near Ypres to pay their respects to servicemen involved in World War I.

Clouthier Q & A

PHOENIX fans’ favourite Brett Clouthier might not be coming back to Manchester next season.

But the former enforcer is still keeping tabs with the news from the Altrincham ice rink. Chris Brierley caught up with him at his home in New York state for a question and answer session in which he praised the bold move to drop down into the English Premier League.

Notts v Lancs: Day two

LUKE Sutton has expressed his surprise at the inclusion of England bowler Ryan Sidebottom in the Nottinghamshire side for the current County Championship match at Trent Bridge, despite being named in the 16-man Ashes squad.

The Lancashire wicketkeeper says he finds the decision to make the left-arm seamer available to his county “extraordinary”.

Wilkinson's battle to keep Myler

WIGAN and Saints are set to rival Warrington Wolves for Richard Myler's signature at the end of the Super League season.

Wolves face keen competition for the 19-year-old Salford scrum-half who has turned down a lucrative four-year contract from the City Reds.

Vaughan confirms retirement

MICHAEL Vaughan has confirmed his retirement from all forms of cricket.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the Worsley-born 34-year-old’s decision ahead of a scheduled press conference at Edgbaston.

Belle Vue 46 Lakeside 44

BELLE VUE led from the word go in an Elite League thriller at Kirkmanshulme Lane but still left it to a dramatic final heat before clinching victory.

The One51 Aces led by two points going into the last heat so they needed at least a share of the points to ensure the win.

Tennis: Murray wins epic

ANDY Murray raised the roof at Wimbledon as he served up an epic late night five set thriller to roar into the quarter finals.

Britain’s No 1 survived a scare to overcome his toughest test yet against Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka.

Lancs can go all the way - Laxman

VVS Laxman believes Lancashire have the momentum to go all the way to Twenty20 Cup finals day.

The Indian put on a stunning unbeaten 162-run partnership with Steven Croft as Lightning wrapped up their group campaign with a nine-wicket demolition of Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge today.

Germany U21s 4 England U21s 0

STUART Pearce's England Under-21s were crushed in their European Championship final in Malmo on an evening that featured a goalkeeping error and a comfortable German victory.

Mesut Ozil's long-range free-kick embarrassed stand-in goalkeeper Scott Loach but England were already trailing at that stage to Gonzalo Castro's opener at Swedbank Stadion.

Aces home in on Crump

BELLE Vue bosses are keeping close contact with hot World title favourite Jason Crump in case he decides to return to British speedway.

David Gordon, managing director of the One51 Aces, and team boss Chris Morton met the Aussie superstar in the pits at Cardiff's Millennium stadium on Saturday before he won his seven races to destroy the field in the British Grand Prix.

Noble finds the formula

WIGAN coach Brian Noble said his team's 36-28 victory against Hull KR was evidence that they they had coped admirably in a week full of negative headlines.

The Warriors came out fighting after a turbulent seven days which saw Gareth Hock test positive for cocaine and the Wigan boss' own future at the club become the subject of much speculation.

Dougherty wins in Munich

HE’S BACK! Nick Dougherty delivered what he’s been promising all season when he edged to a one-shot victory in the BMW International Open in Munich.

And as the champagne corks popped at his club Shaw Hill, equal measures of relief and joy were etched over his face as he spoke of the “tough times”following the sudden death of his mum Ennis 14 months ago.

McGeechan: Defeat has hit us hard

BRITISH and Irish Lions head coach Ian McGeechan admitted Saturday's heartbreaking last-gasp defeat to South Africa was one of the biggest disappointments of his rugby career.

Morne Steyn's injury-time penalty earned the Springboks a dramatic 28-25 victory in Pretoria to seal a series triumph for the world champions.

Lancashire hammer Notts

AN unbeaten new club record partnership of 162 between Steven Croft and VVS Laxman handed Lancashire Lightning their eighth win in the Twenty20 Cup as they beat Nottinghamshire by nine wickets.

Croft thrashed nine fours and three sixes in his innings of 83 from 47 balls while Laxman hit eight fours and two sixes to finish 78 not out off 53 balls.

Salford 10 Huddersfield 34

SALFORD were handed a home drubbing by a Huddersfield side Reds coach Shaun McRae described as "clinical".

McRae, whose side have seven of their 11 remaining fixtures to be played at The Willows, said: “They were just strong from the start. We needed to get a bit more possession and a bit more field position and it never happened.

Warrington 24 Hull 12

HULL missed the chance to leapfrog revival club Warrington in seventh spot in engage Super League as they slipped to a 24-12 defeat at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

The sides were level at 6-6 at the break but the Wolves ran in three tries in 10 minutes after the interval to make it five wins in their last six league matches.

Tennis: Murray in great shape

ANDY Murray gave himself an "A" for coming through the first week of Wimbledon but insisted he would still need to improve to lift the title.

Murray advanced to the fourth round with a straight-sets victory over Serbia's Viktor Troicki on Centre Court today, and looks in good shape to maintain his bid to become the first British winner of the men's singles since 1936.

St Helens 30 Celtic 0

ST Helens produced a first-half masterclass with four tries to move a step closer towards finishing top of the engage Super League for the fifth successive year.

Bottom club Celtic Crusaders, who were missing several first-choice players through injury but lacked nothing in spirit, began brightly but had no answer to their hosts' superior class.

Flintoff's Lancashire focus

ANDREW Flintoff brushed aside talk of the Ashes after his blistering Twenty20 Cup best of 93 off 41 balls against Derbyshire, insisting he was just happy to have helped Lancashire through to the quarter-finals with two games to spare.

Freddie battered nine fours and six sixes as he helped the Red Rose post a mammoth 220-5, their highest innings total in the competition's history.

Sharks snap up Seymour

SALE Sharks have made another key addition to their pack by swooping to capture highly-rated flanker David Seymour from Saracens.

The 24-year-old has signed a one-year contract with the Edgeley Park club with a further option.

Athletics: Youth Games gets new look

EVER since Britain won the right to stage the 2012 Olympics, there has been a major drive to inspire and introduce youngsters into sport.

And while the Games' ethos of 'taking part is more important than winning' remains, there has also been a shift in emphasis on the level of competitiveness.

Golf academy competition

WE'VE teamed up with The Co-operative to offer four youngsters the chance to attend the Lee Westwood Golf Academy, which develops children's golf skills while having fun and enjoyment at the same time, at High Legh Park on July 22-24.

Murray breezes past Gulbis

FLYING Scot Andy Murray is heading for a super Saturday at Wimbledon, by royal appointment.

Britain’s No 1 signed, sealed and delivered a straight sets win to race into the third round.

Hatton torn over swansong

RICKY Hatton has revealed the agonising he is going through as he decides whether or not to bring the curtain down on his boxing career.

The Hitman is still to make a decision on his future after his devastating second-round defeat to Manny Pacquiao in May.

Sheridan on Lions bench

SALE prop Andrew Sheridan is on the bench for the British and Irish Lions' second Test against South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday.

The Sharks powerhouse has shrugged off a back injury to take his place in the squad as Ian McGeechan's men look to bounce back from last week's 26-21 defeat.

Noble focused on Wigan

WIGAN coach Brian Noble has brushed off the latest round of speculation over his future by insisting he is fully focused on the Warriors' season.

Reports this week claimed New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney had turned down an approach to succeed Noble, whose contract expires at the end of the campaign, in 2010.

Adamson set to sign

SALFORD Reds' highly-rated young forward Luke Adamson has confirmed he is set to sign a new three-year contract.

Adamson is intent on staying and wants to further enhance his reputation as a back row forward. Adamson told M.E.N. Sport: "We are very close to striking a new deal and I want to stay."

Poole 44 Belle Vue 49

BELLE Vue took a massive step towards a lucrative Knockout Cup semi-final date with Coventry when young Dane Patrick Hougaard was the hero of a stunning victory at Poole.

The One51 Aces pulled off their third away win of the season in the first leg of the quarter-final.

Keedy is Ashes quality - Law

STUART Law will be trying to smash him all over Derbyshire tonight, but the former Lancashire skipper believes England have missed a trick in not picking Gary Keedy for the Ashes.

The Aussie-born batsman takes on his old team-mates in the Twenty20 Cup in Derby this evening, trying to deny them the win which will secure Lightning a place in the last eight.

Adrian Morley column

I'M bitterly disappointed to think that my mate Gareth Hock is facing the daunting prospect of being banned from playing professional rugby league for two years.

Gaz is a great player - I admire him and I respect him but if he has taken drugs, as alleged, then his actions cannot be condoned and he must be punished accordingly.

Robbo makes up for signing error

IT was Groundhog day for Barry Taylor in the Open Championship regional qualifier at Pleasington - and a day of atonement for James Robinson at Mere.

Taylor, assistant professional at Houghwood, led the way for the second year running with a three-under-par 68.

Hall a silent assassin

QUIET man Matthew Hall is convinced his fists will do the talking when he steps into the ring with motormouth Anthony Small.

Commonwealth light-middleweight champion Hall defends his title against Small at the MEN Arena next month, when the pair will also compete for the vacant British title.

Mahmood's Ashes ambition

SAJID Mahmood is out to prove he is good enough to play in the Ashes when he faces the Australians next week.

The Lancashire pace star is in the England Lions squad to take on Ricky Ponting and his men at Worcestershire, and he is planning to use the chance to show the selectors he can cause the Aussies some problems this summer.

Sale 2009/10 fixture list

SALE Sharks will get their 2009/10 campaign off to a cracking start at home to reigning champions Leicester Tigers.

The new fixtures have also handed Sale an opening road trip to traditional bogey side Newcastle Falcons – though the Sharks did create a small slice of history last season by recording their first-ever league win at Kingston Park.

Shacklady in the swing

DAVID Shacklady clocked up his third pro-am victory of the season with a flawless six-under-par 64 at Ashton-in-Makerfield, the Mossock Hall maestro rolling in three birdies on each loop to finish two ahead of Bolton's Steve Parry.

The pair both played in the Open at Carnoustie two years ago and the result will have served as a confidence booster for Parry who is pegging up in today's regional qualifier at Pleasington, his adversary being exempt into the next stage.

Lions to resist change temptation

WARREN Gatland has hinted the British and Irish Lions will resist the temptation to make wholesale changes for their must-win second Test against South Africa.

The Lions were beaten 26-21 in Durban and are expected to select a new front row on Saturday in order to neutralise the scrummaging and mauling dominance the Springboks enjoyed last weekend.

Aces promoter Gordon fights back

BELLE Vue speedway are in the lower reaches of the Elite League after targeting a play-off position. Promoter DAVID GORDON, a Trafford Park businessman, tackles questions from the terraces and M.E.N. speedway correspondent Richard Frost.

Tennis: Murray rounds on Brits

ANDY Murray has vowed to let his tennis do the talking in his quest for Wimbledon glory.

But he expressed surprise at being the only British man to make it to the second round. The last Brit standing in the men's singles said: "It's not great it's disappointing. The depth needs to get way better. It's not acceptable.

Pendleton's a model cyclist!

WHEN an M.E.N. photographer captured glamorous cyclist Victoria Pendleton with a clutch of World Championship medals in 2007, the dashing athlete joked she had never done pin-up shots before.

As you can see from her latest portfolio - things have changed!

Wigan's Hock suspended

THE Rugby Football League have suspended Wigan and England forward Gareth Hock after he tested positive for a banned substance.

The 25-year-old second rower was found to have Benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in his system after he was tested following Wigan's home match against Salford earlier this month.

Belle Vue 36 Coventry 53

BELLE Vue's smiles at their great win at Eastbourne on Saturday was wiped off their faces with a crushing home defeat on Monday night.

A powerful visiting side, which boasted four riders of heat-leader standard to Belle Vue's one, carried far too many big guns and had 11 of the 15 heat race winners.

Salford's Cowboys hit back

TWO former Cowboys stars have shown true grit to earn their spurs with the Salford City Reds.

The club's Aussie duo Ray Cashmere and Mark Henry have had glowing praise heaped on them by football director Steve Simms for sticking to their guns and silencing the critics.

Fisher salutes US Open winner Glover

ROSS Fisher hailed surprise US Open champion Lucas Glover as a worthy winner after the American held off the world's best players at Bethpage Black.

England's Fisher landed his best finish in a major when he placed fifth, three shots behind Glover as the rain-drenched 2009 US Open finally came to a conclusion in dramatic fashion on its fifth day.

Flintoff in, Vaughan out

LANCASHIRE all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been selected for England's pre-Ashes camp after proving his fitness.

He is joined by Red Rose seamer Jimmy Anderson, while Sajid Mahmood is in the England Lions squad to face Australia on July 1.

Athletics: Ennis hits form

JESSICA Ennis captured just one North of England track and field title from her four attempts at Sportcity.

But Britain's brightest female medal prospect for the World Championships in Berlin this August stole the show at the two-day meeting in Manchester.

Myler rejects Salford offer - report

SALFORD scrum-half Richie Myler has turned down a new contract offer from the club, according to his agent Martin Offiah.

England international Myler, 19, is one of the hottest young properties in the game after bursting onto the engage Super League scene this year.

Williams has point to prove

SHANE Williams admits he will enter the last-chance saloon in an attempt to rescue his British and Irish Lions Test ambitions.

Reigning world player of the year Williams has been left behind in the Test team running by rival wings Tommy Bowe and Ugo Monye. Sale's Andrew Sheridan, who is struggling with a back complaint, is left out.

Saints smash Bulls' record

ST HELENS coach Mick Potter singled out James Roby and Maurie Fa'asavalu for praise after they helped to orchestrate a record-breaking 44-18 demolition of engage Super League rivals Bradford.

The result gave Saints their 16th successive away win to smash Bradford's record of 15 straight victories set in 1997.

Anderson's aiming great balls of fire

JIMMY Anderson hasn't got the best of memories where the Ashes are concerned.

And no wonder. In three Tests against the Aussies he has suffered three defeats and has combined figures of 5-413.