Manchester United’s conquerors Athletic Bilbao scored three late goals to beat Schalke 4-2 in their Europa League quarter-final first leg last night.

Paul McGrath admits he is very concerned about Richard Dunne being fit enough to play for Ireland at the European Championship finals, and says that he is “desperate for him to be okay”.

Patrick Vieira has attempted to row back on comments made yesterday where he claimed Manchester United get preferential treatment from referees.

Munster boss Tony McGahan believes the arduous process of developing Test-standard props for Ireland is being hampered by restrictions limiting contracted players’ involvement for their Ulster Bank League clubs.

On loan QPR striker Federico Macheda’s season appears to be over.

Athletic Bilbao winger Markel Susaeta knows his side cannot afford to waste any chances when they face Schalke 04 in their Europa League quarter-final first leg in Gelsenkirchen tonight.

Manchester United striker Michael Owen insists he still has at last two more years at the top level despite his present injury problems.

Manchester United have accepted an apology from Manchester City over a controversial placard held up by Carlos Tevez during their title celebrations.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque yesterday named six uncapped players in his squad for the friendlies against Serbia and South Korea ahead of the European Championships this summer.

Manchester City may have wrestled the title from their grasp, but Manchester United were yesterday awarded two prestigious honours for their dominance of the Premier League.

Roberto Mancini last night described the final moments of Manchester City’s decisive win over QPR as “the best and worst five minutes” of his and his players’ lives as an estimated 100,000 fans lined the streets to witness the team parade the Premier League trophy on an open-top bus tour of the city centre.

Malaga striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has announced his retirement from football, at the age of 35.

England manager Roy Hodgson believes Gary Neville will make an invaluable contribution to his coaching team.

Sunderland have dismissed fears that John O’Shea could miss Euro 2012 by giving him the all-clear to join up with the Irish squad next week.

Alex Ferguson has confirmed veteran midfielder Paul Scholes has signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester United.

Manchester City last night apologised to Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson after striker Carlos Tevez held up a banner goading his former manager.

Last summer at a sports conference in Liverpool’s John Moores University, Chelsea’s director of football operations, Mike Forde, recounted a conversation he had with Billy Beane of Moneyball fame.

He may have dismissed his side’s title chances on several occasions but Roberto Mancini insists he never stopped believing Manchester City could win the Premier League title.

Sunderland’s John O’Shea is likely to be fit for the European Championships.

Roy Keane has reopened the wounds surrounding his departure from Manchester United in November 2005 saying he felt ‘‘insulted’’, ‘‘badly treated’’ and ‘‘lied to’’ by the club he served with distinction for 12 and a half years.