Sport

Lancashire all-rounder Tom Smith hopes his side have ‘the X Factor’ in their bid to reach the T20 finals day for the first time in three years.

Ahead of the Great City Games in Manchester this weekend, British hopefuls such as Richard Kilty and Greg Rutherford have given their views on the unique event.

Sale Sharks fly-half Danny Cipriani has the chance to end his five-year drought of international rugby after being selected in a 20-man training squad ahead of this summer’s tour to New Zealand.

World Cup holders’ squad is littered with talented superstars that currently call Manchester home, including David De Gea, Juan Mata, David Silva, Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo

United fell at the final hurdle in their bid to retain the title as Chelsea came from behind to triumph 2-1 in front of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and 13,000 other spectators at Old Trafford

As part of the tour for telecommunications company SingTel, the Premier League duo have been taking part in a number of challenges ranging from a crash-course in Singlish, Colloquial Singaporean English, to showing off their best football tricks

Nasri left out of France World Cup squad four years after South Africa heartache

The United pair were both included in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man Three Lions squad but neither have been able to cement their place in the Reds starting 11.

The South Korean notched up 27 goals in 205 United appearances and won four Premier League titles, three League Cups, one Uefa Champions League and the Fifa Club World Cup.

Former Sale Sharks full-back Ben Foden is on the hunt for a place in England’s squad for their summer tour to New Zealand and the Rugby World Cup next year.

Signed by Stuart Pearce from Shrewsbury Town in 2006 for an initial fee of £600,000, Hart spent his early City years out on loan at Tranmere Rovers and Blackpool, helping save the latter from relegation.