Eagles apologises for Thompson challenge

Manchester United’s Chris Eagles has apologised to Alan Thompson after his reckless challenge left the Celtic midfielder fearing a serious injury.

The 18-year-old has earned himself an unwanted reputation with bad tackles on German star Michael Ballack and now the England international in America.

But the talented midfielder held his hands up and admitted that he lost his head because he was charged up with his elevation to the senior side.

Eagles explained: “I went into the dressing room to make sure he was okay. He seems to be fine and he has just had a few stitches.

“I was just excited because I have come up from the reserves and I was just recently playing for the under-18s. I went in and I didn’t need to do it.

“Afterwards Chris Sutton came up and said ‘Watch yourself’ and the size of him made me feel proper small.

“You don’t think about things because the adrenalin was pumping. If I had pulled out then people would have said I was too soft.”

United skipper Roy Keane exchanged words with Sutton after the incident and he was quick to jump to the youngster’s defence in the aftermath.

“Chris has not a bad bone in his body,” said Keane. “Maybe that is the problem. I ran over to him when the tackle was made because that is what you do in football – look after each other, especially the young lads.

“I honestly think he tumbled into the tackle and slipped and his foot went over the ball.”