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The manager also warned players, including ex-United Premier League winner Luke Chadwick, that they will be shirtless if they attempt to make a half-time swap.

A poll by bookmaker William Hill to identify the most ‘weather hardened fans’ gave United 23% of the vote – not surprisingly coming behind the Premier League’s two North-East sides Newcastle United and Sunderland.

Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United, currently sat in fourth place in the Premier League, travel to the 8,000 capacity stadium on Friday evening to take on League Two outfit Cambridge United.

Lampard was seen receiving treatment for a muscle injury before City took on Hamburg in an Abu Dhabi friendly but the 36-year-old asked his manager to let him play.

Three-times European champions United rose two places to second in the 2015 annual Deloitte Football Money League report published yesterday.

Fly-half Cipriani earned his first Six Nations squad call up since 2008 on Wednesday and could play a pivotal role in Stuart Lancaster’s side as the World Cup fast approaches.

Bury manager David Flitcroft has urged the Premier League to support the professionalisation of referees in the Football League after criticising the standard of officiating.

Mancunian Matters has teamed up with Manchester City to offer one lucky fan the opportunity to experience all the excitement of the FA Cup as the Blues take on Middlesbrough this Saturday.

Emma O’Reilly, who was a key whistleblower in exposing the disgraced former Tour de France winner’s use of performance-enhancing substances, has teamed up with Jennie Duschenes to launch performance brand Pro Spin and the fitness concept Spin Club at the site based in Hale.

Brought to life by German photographer Oliver Soulas, ‘When We Were Kings’ is an exhibition of cycling legends from the 1940s-80s using modern-day portraits which was launched last Friday in Manchester.

Sale’s spirited performance was not enough to avenge the 35-3 loss suffered away at last year’s finalists Clermont in their previous fixture, but a 22-13 scoreline at the AJ Bell stadium was at least respectable.