Big Jack has hip surgery

Former Ireland boss Jack Charlton is recovering in hospital after undergoing hip replacement surgery following a fall at his home.

The 76-year-old, who along with brother Bobby was part of the England team which beat West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in the 1966 World Cup final, had the operation at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Son John said: “He’s fine. He had the operation this morning (Friday) and the operation was fine. Everything went well.

“They will probably keep him in over the weekend and let him out on Monday if everything is fine.

“They said it’s not a big operation and, as long as he came through it okay, they expected him to make a full recovery. He has come through it and now it’s all about rehabilitation.”

The Ashington-born former Leeds defender broke his hip after falling down the stairs at his home in Morpeth, Northumberland on Thursday night while his wife Pat was out, but managed to get to a telephone to alert his son.