Patrice Evra is desperate to impress at Manchester United, hoping that a run of good performances will earn him a place in France’s World Cup squad. He tells Darren Tulett about how he made it to Manchester United with the help of a Senegalese stranger in Milan and a group of nuns — among others

For someone in danger of being fired, Alain Perrin displays a fine line in self-deprecatory humour. According to the latest whispers, George Burley has turned down the job and Neil Warnock has been lined up by chairperson Milan Mandaric to take Perrin’s place. Darren Tulett speaks to the Pompey manager.